Rajya Sabha Sees Uproar As NCT Bill Passed Giving More Powers To Delhi LG, Set To Be Law

A controversial bill proposing to give more powers to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, the Centre's representative, compared to the city's elected government, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 24. This came amid a walkout by the Congress & several other opposition parties including Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party. The bill is seen as a huge setback to Arvind Kejriwal's government, which has been sparring with the Lieutenant Governor since it came to power for the first time in the national capital in 2013. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill makes it clear that the term "government" in Delhi means the Lieutenant Governor & his opinion has to be taken before the Delhi government takes any executive action. Arvind Kejriwal tweeted saying, ‘Sad day for Indian democracy’. Most opposition parties, including the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena, the ruling YSR Congress of Andhra Pradesh, and the Akali Dal had opposed the bill.