New Delhi: Defending his party’s stand on the crucial Delhi services bill, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Pinaki Misra clarified in the Lok Sabha that the party didn’t support BJP-led Union government but supported the Parliament’s power to enact the laws.
As the senior BJD MP begins to speak on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to restore Union government’s control over the bureaucracy in Delhi, in the Lok Sabha, the opposition MPs created uproar for a brief period in the background expressing their dissatisfaction with the BJD for supporting the bill.
Asserting that BJD maintains equidistance from national parties, Misra stated that his party fights vigorously with the BJP on the ground level in Odisha and stated that BJP is the principal opposition party in the state. He also hit out at the Congress party saying, “The Congress is reduced to some 10 percent votes in Odisha. That’s the tragedy of the Congress party,” Misra said.
The BJD MP said that the Parliament certainly has the power to enact this law regarding Delhi. Citing the Supreme Court judgment, Misra said that the apex court itself gave the government a lifeline by saying, “if you bring a new law then the position will be obtained as per the new law.” He said the government has brought this law and now the Supreme Court will decide whether the services can be included among the other three provisions.
“The reason we support this (bill) is because we have studied the constitutional position of the power of this Parliament to enact the law. The Constitution gives this parliament certain exclusive and plenary jurisdiction to enact laws in regard to Delhi. It’s a pure constitutional issue. It’s not a question of the BJD supporting the BJP. The BJD only supports the power of Parliament to enact this legislation,” Misra said.
The BJD also attacked the Delhi government for appointment of 437 consultants to various departments.
“I cannot understand why 437 consultants have to be appointed at your and my expense to run certain departments. The government of Delhi certainly has not covered itself in glory. To take a high moral position on this, perhaps, is a little unwarranted,” Misra said.
PNN