'A black day in the history of Indian democracy': Arvind Kejriwal after India's parliament passes Delhi services law

NEW DELHI: On Monday, the Rajyasha passed the Delhi Services Bill by a vote of 131 to 102. Responding to the development, Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was a "black day" for Indian democracy. The Delhi chief minister also accused the center of trying to "usurp’ power through the backdoor.

Drawing an analogy to the 1935 Government of India Act, which was then imposed by the British on Indians, the prime minister said: "75 years after independence, the prime minister has restricted the freedom of the people of Delhi, almost as if their votes don’t matter, because their elected government has been rendered almost powerless.”

He added: "The future of our beloved country seems to be in the wrong hands. It will be difficult for the BJP to beat the AAP in Delhi. In Delhi, the BJP has not been in power for 25 years, so they want to take it by any means necessary. Mandate of the people. Unable to compete with AAP in terms of governance, BJP suffered major defeats in troubled states like Gujarat, Haryana and Manipur. That's why they tried everything to stop Arvind Kejriwal."

“BJP has problems with the social welfare schemes such as construction of new schools, free Medical supplies, Mohalla clinics, new hospitals, 24-hour electricity and water supply, roads, etc.," the CM said while reminding the PM of his promise of 2014 elections to Delhites- the promise of complete statehood to Delhi. 

The Chief Minister said, "I would like to remind the Prime Minister that you came to Delhi in person to participate in the 2014 elections. You spoke and promised the people of Delhi to make me the Prime Minister and I will make Delhi a full state.Before that, BJP has campaigned before every election to make Delhi a full state. Today you stabbed the people of Delhi in the back; you broke your promise and if you do that, who will trust the Prime Minister? This time, the people of Delhi won’t give you a single seat in the Lok Sabha.”

Kejriwal criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He said that the people of Delhi will not even give the BJP a seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Kejriwal claimed that the BJP could not compete with his and the AAP government's job and so was therefore “torturing” the people of Delhi. Asserting that he is the “son of Delhi”, Kejriwal claimed that people liked him.