Arvind Kejriwal, the esteemed leader of the Delhi government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), reiterated his long-standing position during a rally at the historic Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. While the message itself is not novel, the context in which it is presented holds significance. Concerning the ordinance pertaining to the regulation of services, Kejriwal stated that Delhi was the initial target, and such ordinances will be extended to other states in the future.
It is evident that the central government lacks faith in the constitution, as evidenced by their actions. Narendra Modi’s refusal to acknowledge the Supreme Court’s decision reflects a dictatorial approach. In fact, since 2015, Kejriwal has been accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the lieutenant governors of Delhi of impeding the government’s functioning. However, the current focus is on the authority to transfer and assign officers in the Delhi Government. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the elected government in Delhi should possess this right, while also acknowledging the Central Government’s authority to make relevant arrangements. Consequently, the Union Home Ministry established an authority, led by the Chief Minister and comprising the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary of the Services Department, to address this matter. It is evident that this impedes the Chief Minister from arbitrarily transferring any bureaucrat. Chief Minister Kejriwal implored all opposition parties to prevent the passage of this ordinance during the monsoon session of Parliament.
They are well aware that halting the passage of the aforementioned ordinance in both Houses of Parliament is challenging. Certain non-NDA opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha consistently aid the government in passing its bills. The most significant issue here is that the Congress itself has become a major obstacle for Kejriwal. Leaders of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Party openly endorse this ordinance, declaring Kejriwal as the mastermind behind the politics that poses a threat to the Congress. Hence, when the Central Government introduces this ordinance in the form of a bill in Parliament, it will be difficult for the Congress to oppose it. Congress’ central leadership also refrains from openly supporting Kejriwal. Interestingly, several months have passed since Kejriwal requested a meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and President Mallikarjun Kharge, but they have not yet granted him the opportunity.
The paramount question arises when Kejriwal claims that his government has diligently worked in the education, health, and transport sectors, yet simultaneously alleges that he is being hindered from functioning independently. I fail to comprehend how they managed to accomplish so much when the Central Government and the Lieutenant Governor were obstructing their work. The reality is that previous popular Chief Ministers of Delhi, such as Sheila Dixit, Sushma Swaraj, Sahib Singh Verma, and Madan Lal Khurana, possessed the same rights, but they never organized rallies at Ramlila Maidan or resorted to the Supreme Court to raise such uproar. They did not contest the matter. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If Kejriwal genuinely desires to work, neither the Center nor any of its entities can impede him.
Kejriwal also acts according to his own will. The claim that the Center prevents them from working is merely an excuse. Otherwise, the government ministers would not face legal consequences for their decisions. Politics encompasses many unspoken truths and unfulfilled promises. However, the public is not oblivious to these realities. Kejriwal’s proclaimed new form of politics remains elusive, as the work he is undertaking does not significantly differ from traditional political parties.
Now, the responsibility lies with Kejriwal to reflect and determine whether the political methods he is employing will impact his future in politics. Regarding his recent speech,
it would not be deemed appropriate in a healthy democratic system for a Chief Minister to employ derogatory language towards an elected Prime Minister.
Read the Latest India News Today on The Eastern Herald.
