Kejriwal on Centre's ordinance: Amid his attempt to seek support for the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP's) fight against the Union government's ordinance for the control of services in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Thursday.
Speaking to the media after meeting Sharad Pawar, Kejriwal said, "Sharad Pawar ji has assured us that NCP will support us in defeating in Rajya Sabha the bill to replace the Centre's ordinance against the Delhi government. We are trying to gather support from all non-BJP parties."
"There is a crisis in the country and it’s not an issue limited to Delhi. NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together," said NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
After seeking Pawar's support, Kejriwal said, "Tomorrow, I will seek time from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to meet them on this issue."
The AAP convenor along with the party leader and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.
Earlier on Wednesday (May 24), the two leaders met Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence to seek his support. Following their meeting, Kejriwal slammed the central government, saying the ordinance means the Narendra Modi government does not believe in the Supreme Court. He also accused the Centre of trying to topple state governments by using the CBI and the ED.
Uddhav Thackeray backs Kejriwal on the matter
Supporting the Delhi Chief Minister, Thackeray said the Supreme Court's order was important for democracy. “We have come together to defeat those against democracy. If we miss the train this time, then there will be no democracy in the country. We have come together to save the country and the Constitution,” Thackeray added.
Centre promulgates ordinance
Earlier on May 19, the Centre promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.
(With PTI inputs)
