Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE Updates: The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, that gives the Centre powers to control Delhi's bureaucracy, was passed in the Rajya Sabha after 8-hour-long discussions. The passage of the Bill has paved way for it to become a law following the President's nod.
The Bill was passed after 131 members voted in favour of it, while 102 members voted against it.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present in the House.
While Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi detailed that caveats of the Bill that make the Delhi chief minister "powerless," AAP MP Raghv Chadha targeted the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) who have declared support for the Bill despite not being a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Responding to the Opposition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the intention of the NCT Bill is purely to have a corruption-free governance in Delhi. "If anybody has a problem with that, I don't know what to say," he said.
"I want to assure the House that the Bill does not overstep powers of the Delhi government. The functioning of the government, as was during Congress' tenure, will not get affected," he added.
While the BJD said that it is "equidistant from both BJP and Congress but supports the Bill for matters related to legislation," the YSRCP targeted AAP to call the party "anarchist."
Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returned to the Parliament after his Lok Sabha membership was restored on Monday, following the Supreme Court's stay on his conviction in the 'Modi' surname defamation case.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha, while discussing the NCT Bill in Rajya Sabha, claimed that the BJP has been demanding for full statehood of Delhi for decades.
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi alleged that the NCT Bill is unconstitutional and renders the Delhi government powerless.
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023 and the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023 were passed in the Lok Sabha.
No-confidence motion against the NDA government will be discussed in Parliament from 8-10 August.
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Parliament Passes NCT Bill
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, that gives the Centre powers to control Delhi's bureaucracy, was passed in the Rajya Sabha after 8-hour-long discussions. The passage of the Bill has paved way for it to become a law following the President's nod.
The Bill was passed after 131 members voted in favour of it, while 102 members voted against it.
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