President Ram Nath Kovind gives assent to GNCTD Amendment Bill

The Bill gives more power to the Lieutenant Governor over the elected government of Delhi.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday cleared the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, officially making it a law. The Bill gives more power to the Lieutenant Governor over the elected government of Delhi. The Union Home Ministry will now declare when it will come into effect.

The Parliament had passed the Bill on March 24, amid the protests and walkout by the opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Reportedly, President signed the Bill in the hospital as he has to undergo a planned bypass surgery at AIIMS on March 30. The Bill seeks to give more power to the Lieutenant Governor which makes him the "Government of Delhi." The opinion of the LG will need to be taken before the Delhi Government takes any executive decision.

In Rajya Sabha, 83 members voted in favour of the Bill while 45 opposed it. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), ruling government of Delhi has strongly opposed the Bill and said the Bill will not be accepted by the people and there will be protests, much like the farmers' protests