NCP will give full support to CM Arvind Kejriwal, we will also talk to other non-BJP parties and seek their support: Sharad Pawar
MUMBAI: In an extraordinary show of unity, AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal's campaign against the Centre's unconstitutional ordinance has garnered overwhelming support from influential political figures. Following, support from Janata Dal United, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Left, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), through its President Shri Sharad Pawar has extended his support to the cause, signalling a growing opposition against the Centre's undemocratic move.
After meeting with Shri Sharad Pawar in Mumbai, today, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal emphasised the importance of collective opposition, stating that it must stand united in the Rajya Sabha to oppose this unconstitutional ordinance. He further emphasised that a victory in defeating the bill in the Rajya Sabha would send a powerful message to the nation, highlighting the waning popularity of the Modi Government leading up to the 2024 elections.
The CM went on to stress that the issue transcends mere political divisions, stating that this is not solely a matter of government versus opposition; it is a movement that unites all those who genuinely care for the well-being of our country.
Shri Sharad Pawar also reiterated his commitment to the cause and stated that NCP will provide unwavering support to CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. NCP will also engage with other non-BJP parties to seek their support.
Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann, who was accompanying the AAP Convenor, echoed the concerns about the state of democracy in India, stating that India is the largest democratic country in the world, but our democracy is being killed in broad daylight
The immense support from prominent leaders and politicians against the Centre's unconstitutional ordinance is a clear indication of the growing discontent within the political landscape. Shri Sharad Pawar is the fifth senior leader from another political party to support the campaign of the Delhi CM. Earlier, Shri Arvind Kejriwal met Bihar CM Shri Nitish Kumar and Bihar Dy CM Shri Tejashwi Yadav in New Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena President Shri Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.
The Aam Aadmi Party delegation that met Shri Sharad Pawar on Thursday included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Raghav Chadha and Delhi Education Minister Ms Atishi. Senior leaders of the NCP including Shri Praful Patel and Smt Supriya Sule were also present in the meeting.
The Delhi CM thanked Shri Sharad Pawar, his family and the NCP for standing together with the people of Delhi and supporting the campaign of the Delhi Government. He highlighted how soon after the AAP Government formed its first majority government in Delhi in February 2015, on 23rd May that year, the Centre led by PM Narendra Modi snatched away the powers that the Constitution had given to the state government by merely issuing a notification. “From May 2015 to May 2023, for eight long years, we fought against this injustice and approached the Supreme Court. Finally now, when the court unanimously ruled 5-0 in our favour and the people of Delhi won the battle, the Centre promulgated an Ordinance on 19th May and overturned the court order within eight days,” he said.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that this Ordinance will now be required to be presented in the Parliament in the form of a Bill. He said that it is the aim of his government to meet leaders from all the non-BJP parties and garner their support to defeat this anti-democratic Ordinance in the Rajya Sabha. “Shri Sharad Pawar has assured us that when this Bill is presented in the Rajya Sabha, his party will firmly oppose it. We are all aware that no one political party has a majority in the Rajya Sabha and therefore if the non-BJP parties come together then this Bill can be defeated,” he said.
Thanking the NCP chief Shri Sharad Pawar for assuring his support to the campaign, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “Not only has Shri Sharad Pawar assured us of his support, but since he is one of the tallest political leaders in the country at present, he has also promised to get other political parties to support this campaign of ours. I believe that if this Bill is defeated in the Rajya Sabha, then in some ways it will be a semifinal for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the BJP will not be voted back to power by the people of the country,” he said.
Reacting to the conditions across the country today, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Mann said that democracy is in serious danger. He said that although India is said to be the biggest democracy in the world, but in reality day by day, the BJP is murdering the democratic institutions inside the country.
He further highlighted how the Centre has been bossing over states, and particularly those that are run by the opposition parties. “Despite having 91 out of 117 MLAs in Punjab, to have a Budget session of out legislative assembly, I was forced to take the matter to the Supreme Court. It was only after the SC rapped the Governor and said that he had no power to stop a Budget session from taking place, was it allowed to happen. If this is how this country is to be run then what is the point of holding elections. The 30 or so odd Governors and the Prime Minister can run the entire country. There is no pointing in electing any state government then,” he said.
NCP chief Shri Sharad Pawar assured his support to the campaign led by Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal and said that this is not a crisis that is limited to Delhi alone. He added that it is the need of the hour for all the non-BJP parties to come together. “There is a crisis in the country and it’s not an issue limited to Delhi. The NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together,” he said.