The Lok Sabha witnessed some lighthearted moments on Thursday when Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of the Opposition in the House, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, exchanged remarks about the Centre’s attempt to override a Supreme Court order regarding the control of bureaucrats in the country’s capital.

Defending the Government of National Capital Territory of (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Shah stated that India’s founding fathers, such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, C Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, and BR Ambedkar, were against the idea of Delhi becoming a full state.

In response, Chowdhury humorously commented, “When we came to the House today, it felt good that Amit Shah ji was repeatedly praising Nehru and the Congress party. I thought to myself, what am I seeing? Is this day or night? I thought I should run up to him and put a sweet in his mouth. Because praise for Nehru and the Congress from his mouth was a happy surprise for me.”

However, the Home Minister interrupted him, clarifying that he had not praised Nehru. “I have not praised Pandit Nehru. I have simply quoted what he has said. If they want to consider this praise, I have no objection to that.”

Adhir then went on to say, “When you need, you take the help of former PM Jawaharlal Nehru. If you had actually taken the help of Nehru, the country would not have witnessed Manipur and Haryana.” He was referring to the situation at the time.

These comments come at a time when the Centre has been trying to push the Bill through Parliament. The Centre had promulgated the Ordinance on May 19, 2023 — eight days after the Constitution Bench of Supreme Court pronounced its judgment in the Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India case, granting more powers to the Delhi government over services in the national capital.

“The ordinance refers to the order of the Supreme Court, which says that the Parliament has the right to make laws on any issue related to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. There are provisions in the Constitution that allow the Centre to make laws for Delhi,” the Union Home Minister said.

He added, “I appeal to parties to not support all the corruption taking place in Delhi just because you are in an alliance. Because despite the alliance, PM Modi will win the election with a full majority.”

The Bill was earlier introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs in Lok Sabha amid vociferous protests by Opposition members.

“In the year 2015, a party came to power in Delhi whose only motive was to fight, not serve. The problem is not getting the right to transfer postings, but getting control of the vigilance department to hide their corruption like building their bungalows,” Amit Shah said.