Delhi Services Bill: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in Rajya Sabha. The debate in the upper house began after frequent adjournments.
With this, all eyes will be on Rajya Sabha which is expecting some spirited debate over the Delhi Services Bill on Monday (August 7). Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party had issued whips to their MPs asking them to be present in the Upper House till its adjournment. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, has already been passed by Lok Sabha.
In addition, the Lok Sabha Secretariat is expected to review the stay granted by the Supreme Court on the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the 'Modi surname' case and decide on the revocation of the Congress former president's Parliament membership.
To allow a discussion on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, the opposition briefly suspended its protest in the Lok Sabha last week. The bill seeks to replace the ordinance promulgated in May after the Supreme Court granted the control of bureaucracy in the city administration to the elected government.
Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made the contentious bill a rallying point to bring together opposition parties to oppose it in the Rajya Sabha. For both NDA and I.N.D.I.A alliance, the number in the upper house are evenly poised. However, the fence-sitters have titled the scales in favour of the BJP-led government.
After a nearly five-hour debate, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha. Since the beginning of the Parliament Monsoon Session, the houses have cleared as many as 20 bills.
Crucial bills such as the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill and the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill have been passed with little discussion.
In the Lok Sabha, the government has listed the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023; the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023; The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and the Mediation Bill, 2023 for consideration and passage on Monday.
The ruling NDA has over 100 MPs in the Upper House, and the BJD and the YSRCP have also announced their support to the Bill. It is also likely to be backed by nominated members and some Independents in the 238-member strong House. The 26-bloc INDIA alliance of opposition parties is hoping to thwart the bill in the House.
(with inputs from PTI)
