Congress Leader Sandeep Dikshit Blames Arvind Kejriwal for Delhi Services Bill, Citing Political Feud

New Delhi, August 8, 2023: In a departure from the party’s official stance, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit criticized Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the Delhi Services Bill, attributing the draft legislation on service control in the national capital to Kejriwal’s ongoing power struggle and contentious interactions with the Centre.

The draft legislation concerning Delhi services successfully passed through Parliament on Monday, with the Rajya Sabha endorsing it by a comfortable margin.

Sandeep Dikshit, the son of late Congress stalwart Sheila Dikshit and former Delhi Chief Minister, shared his perspective in a video message shortly after the Bill’s final legislative approval in the Upper House. He asserted that if not for Kejriwal’s ongoing dispute with the Centre over service control, the Bill would never have been introduced by the Central government.

Dikshit stated, “There was a time when both the Centre and previous Delhi governments exercised shared control over services in the city, resulting in smooth operations. However, since Arvind Kejriwal assumed office in 2014, he engaged in political maneuvering, entangling himself in a power struggle with the Centre for his personal political gains through questionable means. This prompted the Centre to introduce this Bill. In the absence of such a feud, there would have been no need for this legislation in Delhi.”

Anticipating the aftermath of the Bill’s passage, Dikshit voiced his concerns that the AAP government might prioritize politics over the welfare of Delhi’s citizens. “Now, I can only hope that Arvind Kejriwal will focus on the city’s development during the remainder of his term. However, there is a likelihood that he may lean towards political strategies and issue more politically motivated statements following the enactment of this draft legislation concerning services in the national capital,” he cautioned.

The Congress leader also accused Kejriwal of “deceiving” the people of Delhi and questioned the need for such legislation. Although Congress, along with other Opposition parties, joined forces with AAP to resist the Bill’s passage, the legislation ultimately gained approval in both Houses of Parliament.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which supersedes an Ordinance overturning a Supreme Court judgment on service control vested in the AAP government, was endorsed by the Lok Sabha last week. The Bill empowers the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to manage Group A services in the city, encompassing appointments, transfers, and postings.

Following a division in the Rajya Sabha, the Bill received a nod from 131 MPs, while 102 voted against it.