Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought a meeting with Rahul Gandhi for the support of the Congress in the Delhi government's fight with Centre on the ordinance passed by the Centre to overturn the SC verdict favouring the AAP govt in the case about control of services in Delhi. "Sought time this morning to meet Cong President Sh Kharge ji and Sh Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Cong support in Parl against undemocratic n unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP govt and also to discuss general assault on federal structure and prevailing political situation," Kejriwal tweeted.
Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday urged the non-BJP parties to unite and defeat in the Rajya Sabha the bill related to the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor was addressing a press conference after meeting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who assured to support the former in his party's fight against the ordinance.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray have assured their support to Kejriwal in this matter. "If all non-BJP parties unite, the bill can be defeated in the Rajya Sabha as no party enjoys majority in the Upper House of Parliament," Kejriwal said.
"The ordinance has affected the federal structure of the country. Elected governments not being allowed to work by using ordinances is not good for the country," he added.
Pawar, who was present at the press conference, said the right of elected governments to govern needs to be protected and said all non-BJP parties should support the AAP in this matter. "Kejriwal should also meet all non-BJP parties to convince them. It is our responsibility to persuade everyone - be it Congress or Biju Janata Dal (BJD)," he suggested.
Describing national interest as a matter of priority, the former Union minister called for the need to have a dialogue between all non-BJP parties to provide a stable and progressive government when the time comes. Parliamentary democracy needs to be saved, Pawar said, adding that the NCP will support the AAP in this matter.
Calling Pawar one of the tallest leaders in the country, Kejriwal thanked him for backing the AAP in its fight against the ordinance.
Kejriwal slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and alleged that if people vote for a non-BJP government, then the party resorts to three methods (in order to topple that government) - purchase MLAs from the ruling side, show fear of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or promulgate an ordinance to ensure the elected government is unable to function.
"Defeating the Centre's ordinance is not a matter of politics but that of the country and all parties who love the country should come together," the AAP leader said.