New Delhi, February 8
The AAP government in Delhi is set for a showdown with the Centre over its proposed Jan Lokpal Bill. AAP leaders on Saturday threatened to take to streets if hurdles were created in the passage of the anti-graft legislation.

Both Congress and BJP are opposed to Arvind Kejriwal-led government’s pet proposal. Contesting the Union Government’s assertion that prior approval of the Centre was mandatory before any legislation is passed in the Assembly, senior AAP leaders said the opposition to the Bill was “politically motivated.”

"Without prior approval of the President and the Centre, passing the Jan Lokpal Bill in Assembly won't be unconstitutional as the BJP and Congress are claiming,” said AAP leader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

Referring to Article 255 and Article 239 AA3 of the Constitution, Bhushan said the Jan Lokpal Bill could be passed even if it is in conflict with any Central legislation and would hold good if it received the assent of the President subsequently.

"Under Article 255 of the Constitution, no law passed by any state Assembly will be invalid merely because it did not receive prior approval of the President, if it receives subsequent approval of the President," he said. Asked why AAP government doesn't want to get approval of the President and the Centre before tabling the Bill in the Assembly, he said: "If we send the Bill to the Centre, it will get stuck there. That's why we are first going to table the Bill in the Assembly.”