BJP fumes at ‘backdoor entry’

Two days after the Centre transferred some key powers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to the Delhi government, leaders in the BJP-ruled local body are still fuming, alleging “total misuse of powers.” HT Correspondent reports.

Two days after the Centre transferred some key powers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to the Delhi government, leaders in the BJP-ruled local body are still fuming, alleging “total misuse of powers.”

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From dashing off a protest letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to passing a resolution condemning the move and to shouting slogans in the Standing Committee, the BJP tried every possible way to register their protest against Monday’s Union home ministry notification.

Calling it as a “politically motivated” move, Mayor Kanwar Sain said he has written a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday on the issue. “We were not taken into confidence,” he said.

“A few days ago we had met (Union home minister) P Chidambaram and registered our apprehensions. He told us no decision would be taken without telling us. But we were not at all taken into confidence,” Sain added.

Earlier in the day, during the Standing Committee meeting, the BJP members passed a resolution condemning the Centre’s decision and shouted slogans against the Delhi government and chief minister Sheila Dikshit. Congress members too raised slogans, resulting in chaos.

Amidst the din, the BJP passed a resolution condemning the Centre’s decision to transfer certain powers of the MCD to the Delhi government.

Later, Leader of the House Subhash Arya said: “A simple reason — as the state government does not have control over ‘land’ and ‘law & order’ — the government should treat Delhi like any other Union Territory. And why have they (the Delhi government) demanded only MCD and not NDMC or Delhi Cantonment Board?”

Speaking to the media after the meeting, former Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta said: “The Centre has misused Section 490 A (of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957) to transfer powers to the Delhi government. This is a clear case of ‘backdoor entry’ and would lead to increased political interference.”

However, both Sain and Arya were equivocal on one point.

“Even if there was a BJP government at the state level, we would have protested the move equally vigorously.”