Withdraw Delhi ordinance, demands KCR

Hyderabad: Terming the ordinance issued to nullify the Supreme Court order which granted control of services in the national capital to the Delhi government an insult to the people of Delhi, BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao announced that they would not hesitate to stall the proceedings of Parliament to demand the withdrawal of the ordinance.

Addressing a joint press conference with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, KCR said Emergency-like situation was prevailing in the country with the sanctions imposed on non-BJP governments by the Modi government. The state governments were being harassed by the Governors. "We demand the Prime Minister to withdraw the ordinance on his own. Don't make an issue unnecessarily. Let the government elected by the people of Delhi work," said KCR. Stating that people of Karnataka taught a lesson to the Bharatiya Janata Party, KCR said the people in other states will also teach a lesson to it. He remarked that India reacts as and when something goes wrong.

“If the government of India does not honour the Supreme Court judgment, what will be the fate of the country? Where do you want to take the country,” asked the BRS leader. He alleged that the Modi government at the Centre was creating problems for the non-BJP governments in the states by different means like stopping the release of Central funds and misuse of the office of the Governor.

Thanking KCR for the support, Kejriwal recalled that AAP formed its first government in February 2015 and in the same year in May, the Centre brought notification and snatched the powers of the government in the service-related matters. Calling this a dangerous situation, Kejriwal said their fight was not just for Delhi but for the entire country and for saving democracy. “We are going around the country seeking support from various parties. We want to defeat the Bill when it comes to Rajya Sabha. There are 238 MPs in Rajya Sabha and BJP has only 93 MPs. When opposition parties unite to defeat the Bill, this will be a semi-final before 2024 elections,” he said.

Bhagwant Mann said the AAP government in Punjab also had to knock the doors of the Supreme Court when the governor refused to call the budget session.