Trinamul Congress MP Derek O'Brien on Wednesday said his party MPs have rushed to the national capital to stop the "bulldozing" of a Bill that seeks to give more power to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, in the Rajya Sabha.
"Two days to go for elections in five States. Yet Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MPs air dash to Delhi to stop bulldozing of #GNCT Bill that disempowers an elected Delhi government. Another knife into the heart of democracy, the Constitution and Parliament. Worse still, Home Minister electioneering, not piloting Bill. Cruel irony," he tweeted.
2 days to go for elections in 5 States.Yet Trinamool RS MPs airdash to Delhi to stop bulldozing of #GNCT Bill that disempowers an elected Delhi govt. Another knife into heart of democracy, Constitution #Parliament. Worse still Home Min electioneering not piloting Bill.Cruel irony
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) March 24, 2021
O'Brien had on Tuesday written to Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, requesting him to postpone the consideration and passing of the Bill in view of the absence of TMC members in the Upper House due to the Bengal Assembly polls.
He had called the bill “an extremely important piece of legislation” that had an effect on each part of India and it would be a “gross miscarriage of justice” if the bill was rushed through.
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, seeks to make it clear that the "government" in Delhi means the "Lieutenant Governor (L-G)".
The bill also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the L-G before any executive action.