New Delhi: Today is the second day of Delhi Legislative Assembly's emergency session called by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to discuss the Centre's notification on Lieutenant Governor's powers. Here are the live updates:
- AAP MLA Mahendra Goyal apologises for tearing copy of Home Ministry notification.
- I support the amendments made to the resolution moved by Somnath Bharti, says Kejriwal.
- Instead he attempted curbing the rights and jurisdiction of the Anti-Corruption Bureau: Kejriwal at Delhi Assembly session
- I was thinking PM would summon us and congratulate us that we were successful in evading corruption from Delhi: CM Kejriwal
- There is a conspiracy by the Centre to destabilise Delhi government, says Kejriwal.
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, speaking in the Assembly, says that Centre is using LG and Delhi Police to create conflict.
- All three amendments to AAP MLA Somnath Bharti's resolution have been passed.
- Delhi government's resolution against Centre's notification passed through voice vote in the Assembly.
- BJP MLAs stage walkout from Delhi Assembly against government's resolution on MHA notification.
- AAP lawmaker Mahendra Goyal tears copy of Home Ministry notification on powers of the Delhi government inside the Assembly.
- Proceedings in the Delhi Assembly have resumed. The AAP government is today expected to pass a resolution in the House against the MHA notification granting more powers to the LG in the NCT.
- The AAP government has, meanwhile, effected some bureaucratic transfers in the capital amid a row with the LG. Anindo Majumdar, whose office was recently locked out by the AAP government for clearing Shakuntala Gamlin's appointment as interim chief secretary, has been appointed CMD of the Delhi Finance Corporation (DFC). He was earlier principal secretary (services) before being removed from the post. He had been without charge since then. Also, Parimal Rai has been appointed as principal secretary (social welfare).
- BJP president Amit Shah called a press conference and unsuccessfully tried to talk about the achievements of his government. They said that we have started the allocation of coal blocks and raised Rs 2 lakh crores due to that. Who are they fooling? The coal block allocation wasn't their choice but their obligation, said party leader Dilip Pandey.
- Meanwhile, at the AAP protest demonstrators raised slogans against the Central government and carried placards reading, "RIP Acche Din" and "Acche Dino ki Punya Tithi".
- The Delhi Assembly session is expected to resume at 2 pm.
- AAP leaders are currently taking out a protest march against the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the capital. The protest is being held a day after the Modi government completed its one year in office yesterday.
- The AAP government is today expected to pass a resolution in the Delhi Assembly against the MHA notification granting more powers to the LG in the NCT.
- A resolution against the Centre's decree giving Lt Governor Najeeb Jung the final say in transfers and postings of bureaucrats was moved on Tuesday in the Delhi Assembly while an AAP lawmaker demanded that state legislatures should have the power to impeach Governors.
Buoyed by the Delhi High Court's observation that the LG must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers, AAP legislators took turns to criticise the Narendra Modi government's order giving LG Jung the final say in matters pertaining to services, police, law and order.
The May 21 notification had also stripped Delhi's Anti Corruption Branch of its power to act against Central government employees.
On the first day of the two-day special session of the Assembly called by the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government to discuss the Home Ministry's notification, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia moved the resolution, saying the Centre had encroached upon the rights of the Delhi Assembly.
"It (notification) is encroachment on the rights of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi. They (Central government) have tried to dilute the spirit of the Constitution," Sisodia told the Assembly.
He said the BJP-led government at the Centre was "unconstitutionally trying to impose President's Rule in Delhi".
"This government has taken corruption head-on and achieved unprecedented success. The Centre is trying to thwart Delhi government's attempts," Sisodia added.
Taking the tussle with Jung a notch higher, AAP legislator Adarsh Shashtri demanded that a resolution be passed in the Assembly to amend the Constitution to enable state legislatures to impeach Governors and Lt Governors.
"We should pass a resolution asking parliament to review the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission and the articles 155 and 156 of the Constitution to allow state legislatures to have the power to impeach governors and Lt. Governors," Shastri said.
AAP lawmaker Somnath Bharti moved a private member's resolution against the Union Home Ministry's notification. The House will take up the resolution on Wednesday and it is likely to be passed.
The resolution moved by Bharti contended that the May 21 central notification was "contrary to and violative of the provisions of the Constitution of India".
"This House finds this act of the Ministry of Home Affairs as an attempt on the part of the Central government to encroach upon the legislative powers of this august House conferred by the Constitution."
The notification was issued following the ongoing tussle between the AAP government and Lt Governor Jung over the appointment and transfer of bureaucrats. Both also approached President Pranab Mukherjee to seek his intervention for a resolution of the issue.
Meanwhile, BJP member OP Sharma was marshalled out of the Assembly after he made critical remarks against Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.
(With IANS inputs)
