'MPs Air Dashing To Delhi To Stop Bulldozing Of Delhi Bill': Trinamool's Derek O'Brien

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has been passed in the Lok Sabha and now has to clear the Rajya Sabha.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said today that his party MPs had "air-dashed" to Delhi to stop the "bulldozing" in parliament of a Bill that aims at giving more power to the Centre over Delhi. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has been passed in the Lok Sabha and now has to clear the Rajya Sabha. The planned law gives more powers to the Lieutenant Governor, who represents the Centre in Delhi, compared to the city's elected government. Mr O'Brien, who has written to Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu asking him to put off discussion on the Bill until after polls in Bengal and other states, called it a "knife to the heart of democracy, the constitution and parliament" in a tweet. "Two days to go for elections in five States. Yet Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MPs air dash to Delhi to stop bulldozing of #GNCT Bill that disempowers an elected Delhi government. Another knife into the heart of democracy, the Constitution and Parliament. Worse still, Home Minister electioneering, not piloting Bill. Cruel irony," tweeted the Trinamool Rajya Sabha member.