Chandigarh, March 25, 2021 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today termed the passage of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2021 as a violation of the fundamentals of federalism as enshrined in the constitution and committed itself to work alongside all likeminded parties to restore the original Act.
In a statement here, SAD MP Balwinder Singh Bhundur said the passage of the Bill was also a fraud with the constitution and that the development did not auger well for the future. He said this could lead to more far reaching changes which could cause widespread disruption. “Federalism is the key for a healthy democracy in a diverse country like ours and our constitution makers understood this. The passage of the amendment Bill is truly a sad day for democracy”.
Mr Bhundur said the new Act which had come into force now had severely curtailed the powers of an elected government by putting it under the thumb of a selected appointee of the union government. He said the Delhi government as well as its assembly had been made redundant by the passage of the new Act as it specially specified that the Lt Governor’s opinion would have to obtained before taking any executive decision. “This will negate the ideals of representative governance and democracy”, he added.
The SAD MP said the party had opposed the amendment Bill as a matter of principle and had also announced that it was ready to team up with other likeminded parties to defeat it in the Rajya Sabha where the numbers between the treasury benches and the opposition were more evenly matched. “The SAD has been fighting for more powers to the States since 1972. In recent times we are witnessing the frittering away of the powers of the States on one pretext or another”.
Mr Bhundur said the very fact that the National Capital Territory Bill had come on the heels of abolition of the Jammu and Kashmir State assembly and introduction of three Agricultural laws which seek to do away with assured government purchase of food grains had perturbed citizens across the country.
“Now the draft electricity bill which seeks to centralize all power decisions besides seeking to take away the power of State electricity utilities is also in the offing. We will fight all such steps which seek to weaken the powers of the State”, the Akali MP added.
