‘They have created such a situation…those who don’t conform are asked to leave, ’ says AAP legislator

Why did you feel the need to move a resolution to address the alleged ‘Emergency-like’ situation in Delhi?

Over the last couple of months, there has been a constitutional crisis which has led to this Emergency-like situation. But this is the style of functioning of the government at the Centre. Even the democracy within the party (BJP) is over. They have been trying to muzzle an elected government in Delhi and we, as members of the Legislative Assembly, had to address this issue.

Is this a political issue or an issue of governance?

This is political. The government at the Centre has taken no action against its ministers shrouded in controversy like Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Pankaja Munde in Maharashtra. They have created such an environment that those who don’t conform are asked to leave. Yoga karo nahi toh nikal jao (Perform yoga or leave).

Why do you think democracy is threatened?

A senior leader of the BJP like L K Advani has himself said that Emergency can be imposed in the current scheme of things. The architect of the Constitution of India, Dr B R Ambedkar, had made the provisions in the Constitution hoping that President’s Rule will always be the last resort.

But this government at the Centre kept Delhi under President’s Rule for a year until the court ordered it to conduct elections in Delhi. The way the Delhi police is being used to arm-twist and the interference in transfers and postings is all indicative of that. Also, secularism is integral to this democracy; if secularism is under threat, so is democracy.

What do you hope to achieve by passing this resolution?

The Delhi Legislative Assembly has passed this resolution. It will now be sent to Parliament to make the necessary Constitutional amendments to reduce the Centre’s interference and strengthen the federal structure. This assembly has challenged the Centre not to harm democracy.