Delhi services ordinance issue: Kejriwal to skip Niti Aayog meet, writes to PM Modi

The ordinance brought recently by the BJP-led central government has taken back elected Delhi government's executive control over bureaucracy that was earlier given to it by the Supreme Court through its verdict on May 11.

New Delhi: A day after chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced to stay away from Niti Ayog meeting in New Delhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also decided to boycott the upcoming meeting. Kejriwal will stay away from the meeting in protest against the central government's recent ordinance.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal has expressed his concerns, emphasizing the importance of upholding the orders of the Supreme Court and advocating for non-BJP governments to be allowed to carry out their duties.

In the letter, Kejriwal reminded the Prime Minister about the purpose of NITI Aayog, which is to foster cooperative federalism and develop a vision for India. He lamented the erosion of democracy in recent years, with non-BJP governments facing challenges such as toppling attempts, disruption of their functioning, or being denied the opportunity to govern. Kejriwal asserted that such actions contradicted the vision of India as a cooperative and united nation.

Highlighting the methods employed to dismantle non-BJP governments, Kejriwal stated that these governments are either brought down through the purchasing of legislators, or by instilling fear through agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). If these tactics fail, ordinances or the intervention of governors are used to hamper the functioning of these governments. Kejriwal underscored the irony that after a long legal battle, the people of Delhi had secured justice in the Supreme Court, only to have the order overturned within eight days through the passing of an ordinance.

In his letter, Kejriwal also expressed his disappointment that despite his request, no action had been taken by the government to address these concerns. He questioned how a government could effectively function if it failed to ensure the compliance of its own officials. Kejriwal argued that if the Prime Minister did not uphold the orders of the Supreme Court, where would the people seek justice? He criticized the disregard for the constitution and democracy, stating that attending NITI Aayog meetings would be futile in such circumstances.

In It was revealed that CM Kejriwal sought support from other prominent political figures in his fight against the central government's ordinance. He held meetings with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray between May 23 and May 25 to garner support for his cause in Delhi.