AAP’s Maha Rally Against Centre’s Ordinance: Gathered to Uproot Arrogant Tyrant, Says Kejriwal

New Delhi: A grand rally was organised by the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday at Delhi's historic Ramleela Maidan against the BJP-ruled central government’s Ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party has been trying to garner support to defeat the Bill replacing the Ordinance on the posting and transfers of civil servants in the national capital.

A significant number of Delhi's citizens attended the rally, with the leaders claiming a gathering of over one lakh people.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal referred to this rally as a campaign to protect the Constitution and democracy. Apart from prominent leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), former Congress members and current independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also attended the event. They appealed to the people to unite and fight against the Modi government and criticised the Ordinance, calling it an assault on the Constitution.

The site of the rally was adorned with AAP flags as patriotic songs echoed through the air. Particularly, the song Rang De Basanti Chola has recently become an integral part of Kejriwal's campaign. Amidst the atmosphere uplifted by this song, Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann arrived at the stage.

‘Centre Stealing Delhi's Rights’

The party members made extensive transport arrangements and assigned responsibilities to party workers at the ward level to ensure that people from different parts of the city could participate in the rally.

Reena, a 40-year-old resident of R K Puram, attended this rally along with 30 others. She said, "Since the formation of the Kejriwal government in Delhi, a lot of work has been done, but I don't know what problem Modi ji has with Kejriwal. His people constantly harass the CM." On the other hand, she also said that she believes Modi ji is “very good”.

“I like watching him on TV, but it is Kejriwal who helps the poor," she opined.

Reena hails from Chhapra, Bihar, and her husband has been working as a migrant labourer in Delhi for many decades. He works as a painter in residential houses.

Reena said, "In the past few years, our income hasn't increased, but the inflation has skyrocketed."

Similarly, Ram Singh Bhati, a 60-year-old resident of Patel Nagar, who claimed to have been associated with Kejriwal since the Anna Hazare movement, is currently an active party worker. Bhati said, "In this rally, lakhs of people have come, and they have heard and understood Kejriwal's message about how the Centre is trying to weaken the Kejriwal government." He said that after years of struggle, the Delhi government finally obtained its rights from the Supreme Court, “but the BJP did not accept it”.

Ram Singh Bhati

Bhati jested that the BJP has become “unemployed” in Delhi. “They were already out of power in Delhi and now, the people have taken back municipal corporation from them as well. If they continue to act in the same manner, the people will snatch power from them at the Centre as well.”

Talking about the preparation for this rally, he said that before coming to the rally, he and other party members distributed leaflets in a door-to-door campaign. The leaflets carried an invitation to the rally and information about the issues being raised.

Former soldier Upkar Singh, who is around 69 years old, arrived at this rally on his own. He said, "I am not affiliated with any party, but the way the central government has deprived Delhi of power is tyranny, nothing else. If a bull stands with only four legs and if someone cuts off three of its legs, how will it stand? Similarly, the Delhi government stands with just one leg, which is the support of the people, while the central government has taken away all its power by cutting off its three legs."

Upkar Singh at Ramleela Maidan

We Will Reject the Ordinance: Kejriwal

Speaking at the rally, CM Kejriwal said, "Twelve years ago, we gathered at this very ground to stand against corruption. Today, after 12 years, we have gathered once again on the same ground to remove an arrogant dictator."

The convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party said, "The Modi government has dismissed the Supreme Court's decision to snatch the rights of the people of Delhi."

"The Prime Minister has said that he does not accept the Supreme Court's decision. He does not respect the votes of the people of Delhi. We, the 140 crore of us, will save the Constitution. It is evident that just as there is an imposition of tyranny in Delhi, tomorrow the same will happen for Bengal and Rajasthan. The fourth-grade-educated Raja (king) does not understand how to run the country. Unemployment has spread everywhere. Due to the GST, traders have suffered greatly. They have destroyed the entire railways. Milk, curd, vegetables, gas – everything has become expensive,” he said as he attacked the Narendra Modi-led central government.

He added, "The BJP leaders abuse me every day. I cannot tolerate the insult of Delhi. The entire nation stands with Delhi. We will abide by the orders of the Supreme Court. We will reject the ordinance. I know this is Modi’s first attack. Tomorrow, the same ordinance will be brought in for other states."

Modi Govt is Destroying Country’s Institutions: Kapil Sibal

In his address, Kapil Sibal stated that Prime Minister Modi, while campaigning in every state, claims to form a government with a "double engine."

“But this is not a double engine, it is a double-barrel government,” he quipped.

Sibal mentioned that he remembers the time Arvind Kejriwal opposed the UPA government before 2014. “And we thought that the media was with him. Times have changed, the government has changed, the PM has changed, and now the media is with the PM. He said that just as you gave Congress 60 years, give us 60 months, and we will develop India. A hundred and twenty months have passed, but they have only changed the map of India and destroyed all institutions, including the CBI, ED, and CIC,” he said.

He added, “Furthermore, you have taken the powers to control the bureaucrats from the state government. This matter went to the Supreme Court, and the court said that the central government is wrong. The High Court ruled that the Lieutenant Governor is accountable to the Delhi Cabinet, but the central government did not accept the Supreme Court's decision. They brought an Ordinance and formed a committee for service-related matters. The committee will have more power than the chief minister in terms of bureaucracy, giving more authority to the LG.”

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also addressed the crowd and said that this is not a show of strength. “We are only here so that we can convey our message to the people.”

Earlier, on May 25, the Left parties had also protested at Jantar Mantar against the central government's Ordinance undermining the elected government of Delhi. Left leaders said that this order is not only undemocratic but also against the rights of states.

On this issue, Kejriwal is seeking support from most of the non-BJP parties. He has met with leaders of almost all opposition parties and has also appealed for a vote against this order in the Rajya Sabha.