The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Centre's ordinance on the control of services in the capital.

The bill was passed following a four hour long debate by voice vote and in the presence of the Opposition party.

However, the Opposition right after the bill was passed walks out of the Lok Sabha as a protest against the decision.

The Centre on May 19 had promulgated the ordinance which creates the authority for the transfer and postings of Group A officers in Delhi. The ordinance was brought in days after the Supreme Court had ruled that Delhi's elected government has control over services except in matters of law and order, police and land, a report stated by HT.

Initiating the debate on Delhi ordinance bill in Lok Sabha, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated since Delhi is a Union Territory, the central government has the absolute power to make laws on Union territories i.e., on Delhi.

"The bill is constitutionally valid and it is for the benefit of the people of Delhi," he said.

 “Today India is witnessing the dual face of opposition. For them, the bills for public welfare are not important. To ensure a small party does not leave their alliance, they have joined forces”, Shah tweeted after the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha.

“Services have always been with the Central government. Supreme Court gave an interpretation...From 1993 to 2015 no Chief Minister fought. There were no fights because whichever govt was formed their aim was to serve the people. There is no need to fight, if there is a need to serve. But if they want power they will fight...”, Union home minister Amit Shah said during the debate on the bill in the Lok Sabha.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal reacted to Amit Shah's speech in the Lok Sabha and tweeted, "BJP has promised time and again to grant full statehood to Delhi. In 2014, Modiji had said he will accord complete statehood to Delhi on becoming prime minister. Today, these people stabbed Delhi in the back. Don't trust Modiji's words in the future".

“Today, I heard Amit Shah ji''s Lok Sabha speech on the bill that snatches away the rights of the people of Delhi. He does not have a single valid argument to support the bill. He is just talking nonsense; even he knows what he is doing is wrong”, he had posted earlier.