IN A SETBACK FOR KEJRIWAL, CENTRE’S DELHI BILL BECOMES LAW

A controversial bill proposing to give more powers to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor was cleared by President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday, officially becoming law. The Union Home Ministry will now declare when it will come into effect.

On Wednesday, the bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha amid a walkout by the Opposition parties including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The bill is seen as a huge setback to Arvind Kejriwal’s government, which has been sparring with the L-G since it came to power for the first time in the national capital in 2013.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill makes it clear that the term “government” in Delhi means the Lieutenant Governor and his opinion has to be taken before the Delhi government takes any executive action.

The AAP government in Delhi has regularly accused the BJP of trying to rule Delhi by proxy through the Lieutenant-Governor.

Most opposition parties, including the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena, the ruling YSR Congress of Andhra Pradesh, and the Akali Dal had opposed the bill. The YSR Congress had walked out in the middle of the debate.