Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the second part of the budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
Highlight
- Parliament passed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Amendment) Bill-2022 to integrate the three municipal bodies
- Amit Shah said that it has become necessary after the step-motherly treatment by the AAP-led Delhi government
- Amit Shah said that this bill is not an attack on the federal structure in any way.
Parliament on Tuesday passed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Amendment) Bill-2022 to unify the three municipal bodies in the national capital, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod through a voice vote after the Rajya Sabha rejected all the amendments sought by the opposition.
According to the bill passed by the Lok Sabha last week, integration of municipal corporations will ensure coordinated and strategic planning and optimum utilization of resources.
Responding to the discussion on the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah said it has become necessary after the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government treated the civic bodies step-motherly.
Shah said it was a mistake to split the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) into three bodies in 2012, but added that they could still function normally if the AAP-led Delhi government had dealt with them like this. would not have behaved.
Allaying concerns of some opposition members, Shah said, “This bill is not an attack on the federal structure in any way.”
Stating that Delhi is only a union territory and not a full-fledged state, he added that Parliament has the ability to make laws for Delhi and hence has brought this bill.
Rejecting the opposition’s allegation that the ruling government at the Center had brought the bill fearing losing the civic polls, Shah said the BJP had no such fear and was ready to contest the polls immediately after the delimitation.
“It is being alleged that the bill has been brought out of fear of losing the election. But if elections are held after six months, will you lose,” he asked the opposition members.
He said that the BJP has no fear of losing or winning ego and is fully prepared to contest the elections.
read also , MCD Bill: Delhi civic polls unlikely before 5-6 months, say experts