Lok Sabha passes Bill to reunify Delhi civic bodies

Mr. Amit Shah while discussing the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the Lok Sabha, said that the Bill is as per the Constitution since Delhi is a Union Territory.

 

NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2022, seeking to merge the three municipal corporations of the National Capital, was passed in the Lower House.

 

The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill seeks to unify the three municipal corporations into a single, integrated and well equipped entity to ensure a robust mechanism for synergised and strategic planning and optimal utilisation of resources, Home Minister Amit Shah said.

 

The Bill was passed by a voice vote and various amendments moved by the Opposition members were rejected.

 

The Union Home Minister alleged that the Opposition claiming that the MCD polls have been postponed due to fear are “scared themselves”. “If you are so confident of the victory then why do you want elections right now? If you have done good work, you will win 6 months later too,” says the union home minister during discussion on the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in Lok Sabha.

 

Taking a jibe at the Congress, the home minister said, “I’ll tell you what’s done when polls are feared. Allahabad HC had cancelled the election of Indira Gandhi. Soon after, a PM, who didn’t have the right to vote in this House, snatched away democratic rights in the country and imposed Emergency. That’s fear.”

 

Mr. Amit Shah while discussing the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the Lok Sabha, said that the Bill is as per the Constitution since Delhi is a Union Territory and the Centre has the right to bring any legislation to it.

 

“Talks being held about rights of states. I can’t bring such a Bill for Maharashtra, Gujarat or Bengal. Neither I nor the Centre can do it in states. But if you don’t know the difference between a state and UT, I think Constitution needs to be studied again,” the home minister said.

 

NCP member Supriya Sule, speaking on the Bill to reunify Delhi civic bodies in Lok Sabha, questioned the need to discuss municipal issues in the Parliament rather than raising larger policy issues.

 

“What happened to cooperative federalism? someone will challenge this in court, why unnecessary issue?” the Nationalist Congress Party MP said.