New Delhi (Agency): The Congress party has issued a whip to all its Rajya Sabha MPs, urging their presence in the House on Thursday, as important discussions on “very important issues” are scheduled to take place.
The Union Cabinet’s approval on Tuesday for a bill to replace the controversial Delhi services ordinance has prompted the Congress to take this action. The ordinance, which was promulgated on May 19, aimed to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority to handle the transfer and disciplinary proceedings of Group-A officers in Delhi, excluding police, public order, and land matters. Prior to a Supreme Court ruling on May 11, all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor.
The upcoming bill has sparked debates and strong reactions from various political parties. The Delhi services issue has been a point of contention between the central government and the elected government of Delhi, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The Congress’ chief whip in Rajya Sabha has issued a three-lined whip, emphasizing the importance of Thursday’s discussion in the House. All Congress MPs in the Rajya Sabha have been requested to be present from 11 am onwards until the adjournment of the House on Thursday to support the party’s stand.
The controversy surrounding the Delhi ordinance has led to criticism from Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, which accused the central government of “deceiving” the people of Delhi. In addition to the AAP, the Congress and several other opposition parties have also voiced their opposition to the ordinance.
As the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance is set to be discussed in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress considers the upcoming session to be of utmost importance, and the presence of its MPs is deemed crucial for the discussions.