GNCTD will replace democracy with 'babucracy' in Delhi: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly criticised the Government Of National Capital Territory Of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (GNCTD) and said that this bill will turn the democracy into 'babucracy'. AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member of Punjab, Raghav Chadha said that the GNCTD is even worse than the previous ordinance and more against our democracy, the constitution, and the people of Delhi.

Terming this Delhi Services Bill the most undemocratic, illegal piece of paper that has ever been tabled in Parliament, Chadha said that this bill essentially snatches all powers from the elected government of Delhi and hands them over to the Lieutenant Governor and 'babus'. This Bill will replace democracy in Delhi with 'babucracy' and has given overriding powers to the bureaucracy and to the Lieutenant Governor.

Chadha argued that no power will be left with the elected government, which is an affront to the 2 crore people of Delhi who elected the Arvind Kejriwal government with a huge and historic majority. The Bill that has been brought to replace the ordinance in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is even worse than the ordinance itself and is an attack on our judiciary, which ruled in favor of the elected government. This is an assault on India's federal structure, democracy, and constitution. All members of the INDIA Bloc will oppose this bill.

Chadha highlighted the BJP's political motivations for targeting the Delhi government. The BJP has constantly failed to form a government in Delhi; in the last 25 years, all 6 chief ministers of Delhi were non-BJP. The BJP has become politically irrelevant in Delhi, leading to their desperate attempt to wrest power from the Aam Aadmi Party and render the Delhi government ineffective through this bill. He added that BJP is unable to digest the success of Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party and wants to stop them at any cost.

He explained that with this Bill, the officers can refuse to implement a decision taken by the cabinet of the Delhi government. The officers will give an audit of every minister's decision. All the chairpersons of boards and commissions will be appointed by the Lt. Governor. The Chairpersons of the Electricity Board and Jal Board will be decided by the Lt. Governor, so they will decide if the people of Delhi are going to get free water and electricity or not. The bureaucracy as well as the Lt. Governor can override the decisions of the Delhi government and ministers.

Raghav Chadha further said, "I'm very hopeful. This is a fight between Satya and Asatya, Dharma and Adharma, where Dharma and Satya are with us and what the BJP is doing is Adharma. I hope that Dharma stands victorious. It is my core belief that many MPs who sit on the Treasury benches will also rise to the occasion and come forward to protect India's Constitution, the very same Constitution whose oath they have taken to become members of this House."