The Delhi-ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) joined hands on Tuesday against the federal government's ordinance on control over administrative services in the Indian capital.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury met Delhi state chief and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the national capital and extended his support to him.
“We have condemned the ordinance brought by the Centre. It is unconstitutional. It is also contempt of Court. We appeal to the biggest opposition party Congress to come forward to save our constitution”, Yechury said after the meeting.
“CPI (M) has decided to extend support to the Delhi government against the ordinance”, Kejriwal said, reiterating that his party would challenge the ordinance in the Supreme Court.
Kejriwal further stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not in majority in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament) and that if all non-BJP parties come together, the ordinance brought by the Modi government against the people of Delhi can be defeated.
On Congress’ stance over the ordinance, the Delhi state chief said: “They (Congress) are saying that we will not support Kejriwal. This issue is not about Kejriwal rather it is related to the Constitution of the country. It is for the Congress to decide whether they are standing with Modi or with the people of the country. If the Central government bring any ordinance against Rajasthan government then we will stand with Rajasthan”.
The AAP national convenor has been touring the country since 23 May to seek support from the opposition parties against the ordinance.
The federal government on 19 May brought an ordinance making the Delhi lieutenant governor the supreme authority to decide about postings and transfers of Delhi officials.
The ordinance came days after the Supreme Court of India passed an order that the Delhi government has control over bureaucrats assigned to departments under its purview.
The AAP has condemned the ordinance and said that it was introduced to "kill democracy".