Must Bring Non-BJP Parties Together: Pawar Extends Support To Kejriwal Against Centre’s Ordinance

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar to seek support for AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi.

Kejriwal, who is on a two-day visit to Mumbai, was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Atishi and Raghav Chadha.

"It is our duty to ensure that all non-BJP parties support Arvind Kejriwal. Now is time to fight for survival of parliamentary democracy," Sharad Pawar said addressing a joint press conference with Kejriwal.

"If all non-BJP parties unite, the Centre's ordinance can be defeated in the Rajya Sabha. It is not a matter of politics but that of the country and all parties who love the country should come together," Kejriwal said.

The AAP chief also thanked Pawar for backing AAP's fight against Centre's ordinance.

Kejriwal has met Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, West Bengal peer Mamata Banerjee as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance.

Reportedly, Kejriwal is likely to meet Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Centre's ordinance issue.

The Centre last Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court.