Rajya Sabha’s debate of the Delhi Services Bill: opposition parties send a whip to lawmakers requiring their attendance on Monday

As the Upper House will be debating the Delhi services bill on Monday, the opposition parties Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have issued whips to their Rajya Sabha lawmakers requiring them to be present in the Parliament on Monday till it adjourns.

The top whip for the Congress in the Upper House, Jairam Ramesh, said in a three-line whip on August 4 that “very important issues will be taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha on Monday, i.e. August 7, 2023”.

 

According to reports, it added, “All Rajya Sabha members of the Congress Party are requested to kindly remain present in the House beginning at 11 am on Monday, August 7, 2023, until the adjournment of the House without fail.” Ramesh remarked that this can be considered to be the most crucial.

 

“Be affirmatively present in Rajya Sabha beginning at 10:45 am until the House adjourns on Monday, August 7, 2023, and support the party position, as significant items of Legislative Business will be put up for vote. A reminder was given to the Congress MPs in the Rajya Sabha, stating that a three-line whip in this respect had already been issued.

 

All of the AAP’s MPs were also given a whip, requiring them to be present in the Rajya Sabha on Monday and Tuesday.

 

The Lok Sabha has already approved the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

 

The Supreme Court’s decision giving the Delhi government jurisdiction over the “services” under the NCT administration was overturned in May when the Central Government passed the law that nullified it.

 

The bill aims to take the place of the Delhi government’s ordinance on senior officer transfers and postings.

 

On Monday, Rajya Sabha is expected to hear the matching bill that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would propose.

 

Even though the percentages are stacked in favor of the NDA with the BJD and YSRCP promising their support to the government on the bill, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties would make every attempt to impede the government’s drive to approve the law.

 

The BJD and the YSRCP have already declared their support for the Bill, and the NDA, which is now in power, has over 100 MPs in the Upper House. In the 238-member House, it is also expected to get the support of several Independents and nominated MPs.

 

The opposition 26-bloc INDIA coalition wants to stop the measure from passing the House.