90-Year-Old Manmohan Singh Shows Political Will, Attends Rajya Sabha On Wheelchair

The Delhi services bill achieved parliamentary approval as the Rajya Sabha passed the contentious measure. This bill, which grants the Centre control over bureaucracy in the national capital, witnessed the BJP-led NDA successfully countering the opposition's challenge in a closely-watched numbers game. The NDA secured victory with 131 votes against 102.

The Congress exerted considerable effort to garner every possible vote, yet it could not prevent the bill's passage. Despite his frail health, the Congress also facilitated former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's presence and vote in the Rajya Sabha to thwart the bill's advancement. The former PM, who is set to turn 91 next month, attended the Rajya Sabha session in a wheelchair.

Taking a dig at the Congress, the BJP posted on Twitter, "The country will remember this obsession of Congress! The Congress went so far as to keep a former Prime Minister, despite his health condition, in the House late at night, all just to sustain its dishonest alliance! Truly embarrassing!"

During an emotionally charged six-hour debate in the House, Union Home Minister Amit Shah explained that the urgency behind initially issuing an ordinance and now presenting the Bill was to prevent Delhi's ruling AAP from reassigning officials involved in the investigation of the Rs 2,000-crore liquor "scam."