Kejriwal meets Raja amidst controversy over ordinance

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met with leader of the Communist Party of India, D Raja, to discuss the Centre’s ordinance on control of services in Delhi. At a joint press conference, Kejriwal explained that the ordinance gives bureaucrats the power to overrule decisions made by ministers, and gives the Centre control over bodies like the Delhi Jal Board and Delhi Transport Corporation. Raja expressed his support for the Aam Aadmi Party, saying that the ordinance violates principles of federal governance and undermines the Constitution. He also highlighted the CPI’s demand for complete statehood for Delhi and Puducherry. Kejriwal stated that the issue would be a key topic at an upcoming meeting of opposition parties in Patna on June 23. The Centre’s ordinance was promulgated on May 19 to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, a move which the AAP government had called a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.