AAP says “maha rally” at Ramlila Maidan against Centre's ordinance will be attended by 1 lakh people

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The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday claimed that it will hold a "maha rally" at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday against the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital, which is likely to be "attended by one lakh people".

Party spokesperson Reena Gupta said the party is expecting one lakh people to join the rally which will be addressed by the party's top leadership including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with other top leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Sanjay Singh.

She said that AAP has carried out extensive campaigns to inform the masses about the Ordinance and its impact on their daily life.

"We have done extensive campaigning, reached out to people and explained them about the Ordinance and how will it impact their day to day lives," Gupta told PTI.

She further said the schemes introduced by the Delhi government will not get implemented in the union territory if the officers of Delhi are not accountable to the Chief Minister.

"People of Delhi elected Arvind Kejriwal thrice and schemes that are being drafted for people's development cannot be implemented if the officers of Delhi are not accountable to the Chief Minister," she said.

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"The Supreme Court judgment also said that how will an elected government function if the bureaucrats don't listen to them. People of Delhi are upset that why is the Centre trying change it," Gupta added.

When asked about the AAP's moves against the Ordinance, BJP leader Gautam Gambhir alleged that Delhi has witnessed "no development" in the last nine years.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has only been "collecting money from the taxpayers to fight elections in other states," he added.

"What development has he (Arvind Kejriwal) brought to Delhi in these nine years? They only collect money from here and fights elections in other states," he alleged.

The ordinance issued by the Centre on May 19 set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority, bringing back executive control over matters related to services to its domain.

It was issued close on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict on May 11, through which the Delhi government was given the executive control over service-related matters, including the transfers and postings of Delhi government officers but excluding those related to police, public order and land. (PTI)