The parliament last week passed the contentious GNCTD bill. It will strengthen the lieutenant governor of Delhi by asking and urging the Delhi government to communicate and convey all important policy decisions and legislations of the cabinet. Except for land, law and order and police, the Delhi Government can independently make laws and legislation.
But why would the LG unnecessarily interrupt and interfere if the said law meets the constitutionally defined provisions? In my view, this law should throw some light on this aspect. Also, it would be better if the courts could reinterpret the July 2018 judgement as all eyes will be on the Supreme Court.
Plainly and politically, the Bhartiya Janta Party knows that it can’t afford to lose the Municipal Corporation elections in Delhi due next year and is affording to play its tactics by painting Kejriwal as an absolute anarchist, complaining by being confrontationist on every policy issue with the centre. However, this move can backfire given the Kejriwal regime’s contribution primarily to education and healthcare.
If both the state and centre coordinate and collaborate their persuasive strengths and skills, then a lot of difference can be created in the day to day governmentality of Delhi, overburdened with the administration of agencies and departments. Who is accountable and answerable to people’s grievances? Who should they believe and blame, the LG, CM or PM?
They also do not know when the buck will stop in this tug of war between representatives and legislators. Nobody seems to have an edge. We really don’t know who will take the baton in offering clarity to the doubts of us citizens in a dilemma. How do we make sense of our rights at all?