After Mamata, Uddhav agrees to extend support to Kejriwal against Centre’s ordinance

Kejriwal said that Uddhav Thackeray has extended support to AAP and they have decided to oppose the Centre’s ordinance in Rajya Sabha. “We thank them profusely for according a warm welcome to us. We should see it as a semi-final. If the Centre’s ordinance is defeated in Rajya Sabha, it will be a sure indication that the Modi government will not return to power in the 2024 polls. They have been systematically undermining our powers,” Kejriwal said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and others during a meeting at his residence ‘Matoshree’, in Mumbai, Wednesday, May 24, 2024. (PTI Photo)

“We challenged them in the Supreme Court. The verdict was in the Delhi government’s favour. So, BJP brought an ordinance within eight days…thereby indicating they do not accept the SC verdict. The battle is not restricted to the Delhi government. It is a threat to federalism. They are undermining elected governments,” Kejriwal added.

By bringing in the ordinance, the BJP has sent across “a clear message that they will not abide by the Supreme Court’s verdict. They neither believe in democracy nor the apex court”, Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal, who is on a two-day visit to Mumbai, will also be meeting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Thursday.

The Centre on Friday had promulgated an ordinance to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority that would have the power to recommend the transfer and posting of all Group A officers and officers of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) serving in Delhi.

The decision came a week after the Supreme Court’s ruling which handed over the control of services in Delhi to the elected government.

Kejriwal, along with his party leaders, has been on a nationwide tour, to meet fellow Opposition leaders and garner their support against the Centre’s move. He had landed in Kolkata on Tuesday to meet Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had promised to extended her support to her Delhi counterpart.

“If we do not unite now, the people of this country will not forgive us. This government (at Centre) is of the bulldozer, by the bulldozer and for the bulldozer. This country will exist only if democracy exists,” she had said.

Kejriwal is slated to meet Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Thursday.