On March 30, Lok Sabha passed the MCD amendment bill to merge the three municipal corporations into one entity. During the discussion over the bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the bill that proposed the merger of three municipal corporations of Delhi was constitutionally legal. He advised leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to re-read the Constitution.
During the discussion on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2022, HM Shah said Delhi is a Union Territory. Thus, under Article 239-AA-3B of the Constitution of India, the Parliament has the power to make law with respect to it. He said the bill aimed to unify the three corporations into a single, integrated and well-equipped entity. It would ensure optimal utilization of the resources in hand. The Opposition had moved several amendments, but they were rejected by the house. The bill was passed by a voice note.
HM Shah, while responding to the allegations of the opposition leaders that the central government was encroaching upon the rights of the states, said, “People are talking about the rights of states. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also says the same thing…I can’t bring such a bill for Maharashtra, Gujarat, or Bengal. Centre nor I can do it in the states. But if you don’t know the difference between a state and a union territory, then I think Constitution needs to be studied again.”
He blamed the Delhi government for showing a stepmother-like attitude towards MCDs. Furthermore, as there are important places like the President’s house, PMO, secretariats and more in Delhi, it is essential that the civic bodies work properly and efficiently.
दिल्ली सरकार ने तीनों निगमों के साथ सौतेला व्यवहार किया जिससे निगमों के पास पर्याप्त संसाधन नहीं हैं।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 30, 2022
दिल्ली नगर निगम को फिर से एक बनाने का उद्देश्य है कि-
-संसाधन, सहकारितावादी व सामरिक दृष्टि से एक ही निगम दिल्ली की सिविक सेवाओं का ध्यान रखे व इसकी दक्षता व पारदर्शिता भी बढ़े। pic.twitter.com/VEWXV14CYT
HM shah raised questions on the way MCDs were divided. He said while one MCD had enough resources in hand but lesser work, the other two had a lot of work but lesser resources.
तीनों निगमों के बीच संसाधनों व दायित्वों का बंटवारा भी सही से नहीं हुआ, एक निगम की आय हमेशा सरप्लस जबकि बाकि दो की जिम्मेदारी ज्यादा लेकिन आय कम है और संसाधनों की प्राप्ति व खर्चों में भी संतुलन नहीं रखा गया, इस कारण चुनकर आए जनप्रतिनिधियों को निगम चलाने में बहुत तकलीफ होती है। pic.twitter.com/j4pBsfk30L
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 30, 2022
He added the Delhi government claims they do not have money to pay MCDs but they regularly give advertisements worth crores.
दिल्ली सरकार ने आर्थिक रूप से दिल्ली नगर निगम का गला घोटने का काम किया।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 30, 2022
दिल्ली नगर निगम का बकाया देने के लिए दिल्ली सरकार के पास पैसे नहीं हैं लेकिन करोड़ों के विज्ञापन व कार्यकर्ताओं की असंवैधानिक नियुक्तियों के लिए पैसे हैं।
दिल्ली की जनता इसका हिसाब जरुर मांगेगी। pic.twitter.com/NmFQmr0LND
HM Shah said those who say BJP was scared of elections were scared themselves. If they were sure of their victory in the elections, they could win after six months as well.
जो कह रहे हैं कि हम हार के डर से चुनाव नहीं करा रहे, वो खुद डरे हुए हैं…डरना हमारा स्वभाव नहीं है। जीत का इतना विश्वास है तो 6 माह बाद चुनाव से डर कैसा।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 30, 2022
कांग्रेस की प्रधानमंत्री ने रातों-रात नागरिकों के लोकतांत्रिक अधिकार छिनकर देश पर जो क्रूर आपातकाल थोपा उसे डर कहते हैं। pic.twitter.com/K0ZcoZGLOs
Without taking the names of West Bengal and Kerala, HM Shah said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not kill the workers of rival parties to ensure victory. He added BJP wanted to contest elections and win on the basis of the performance of the government, popularity of the leadership and ideology. He said, “Every party should go everywhere with their ideology, stand, program and performance. That’s the beauty of democracy. What’s objectionable here? If a party thinks its candidates should be elected to power on the basis of their ideology and popularity, what is objectionable here?”
विपक्षी कार्यकर्ताओं की हत्या कर सत्ता हथियाना हमारी संस्कृति नहीं है।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 30, 2022
हम अपनी विचारधारा, अपने नेता की लोकप्रियता व सरकार की उपलब्धियों के आधार पर हर जगह चुनाव लड़कर जीतना चाहते हैं।
परिवार के आधार पर पार्टी चलाने वालों को लोकतंत्र पर बोलने का कोई अधिकार नहीं है। pic.twitter.com/3Gx3HpeR53
Earlier, MCD elections were deferred by the Election Commission after receiving communication from the Centre that there were plans to merge the three MCDs into one entity. After the announcement, Aam Aadmi Party leaders alleged BJP was scared of losing the MCD elections. Rebutting the allegations, the Centre said since the split of the MCDs, the resources available at MCDs’ disposal were not being utilized efficiently.
