Delhi deserves full state with all powers exercised by elected government: Omar Abdullah

While taking an apparent dig at the support extended by Aam Admi Party to the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act in October 2019- which essentially dissolved the only Muslim majority state and reorganised it into two union territories- the former Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah condemned the move of BJP led central government to reduce the powers of elected government in Delhi.

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Abdullah was reacting to the tweet by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who has called the amendment bill introduced in Lok Sabha on Monday to be unconstitutional and anti-democratic.

Abdullah tweeted: "In spite of AAP’s support for the dismemberment & downgrading of J&K in 2019, we still condemn this assault on the powers of the elected government of Delhi.

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Delhi deserves to be a full state with all powers exercised by the elected government & not a nominated LG (sic)."

When union home minister Amit Shah had moved the J&K bill to revoke article 370 and bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Delhi CM Kejriwal had tweeted:

“We support the government on its decisions on J&K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state."

The show is now on the other foot. The bill seeks to amend the government of NCT of Delhi Act 1991 which defines the roles and powers of various office holders in the capital city.

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The Government of National Capital territory of Delhi (Amendment) bill, 2021) intends to significantly increase the powers of the lieutenant governor who is nominated by the central government.

The bill states: “When a Bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly, it shall be presented to the Lieutenant Governor and the Lieutenant Governor shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent…” and move which will essentially mandate all the executive decisions to be made in the name of Lieutenant Governor.

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