The Delhi Services Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha last night amid strong opposition. The Bill will replace an ordinance promulgated for handling the transfers and postings of senior officers in the Delhi government. The opposition sought division following an eight hour long debate on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which was moved for passing in the house by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 

During the eight hour long debate, the Union Home Minister claimed that the Centre’s decision was aimed at preventing the “abuse of power” by the Aam Aadmi Party led government. He added that the bill does not violate the Supreme Court’s order. Amit Shah mentioned that the Indian Constitution empowers the Parliament to enact laws for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. He added that during the BJP and the Congress rule in the national capital, there were no fights over the transfer posting in Delhi and that no Chief Minister had any problem. 

Following the debate, division voting allowing the vote of every MP to be registered was carried out using paper slips due to a technical slag in the Upper House of the Parliament. Consequently,the BJP led government managed to pass the bill with 131 members voting in support and 102 members voting against the bill. Reportedly, among 238 members of the Rajya Sabha, 233 members participated in the voting process. Nearly 34 MPs took part in the debate of the bill. 

The BJP and its allies got strengthened as the BJP and the YSRCP, with their nine MPs each, backed the government of Delhi Service Bill, 2023. Meanwhile, the opposition who managed 102 votes against the bill witnessed the presence of wheelchair bound former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Sibhu Soren. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey faction) leader Sanjay Raut opposed the bill on Monday stating that the bill is an attack on the federal structure of India. 

Meanwhile, as soon as the bill was passed, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an online address stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed full statehood in 2014 but the BJP has stabbed the people of Delhi in the back, by passing the bill. He added that after 75 years of Independence, Narendra Modi has snatched the freedom of the people of India. He expresses that the people of Delhi will not give a single seat to the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. 

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