New Delhi: The Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM) on September 5 accused the Centre of "undermining" the powers of the Delhi government terming it as "blatantly anti-Democratic" and demanded that the relevant clause of business rules be suspended.

"This curtailment of powers of the Delhi government is a direct assault on the limited rights to it and is blatantly anti-Democratic," the CPM polit bureau said in a statement.

The party said it opposed the move by the Vajpayee government to "undermine" the powers of the Delhi government by "depriving" it of financial powers and demanded that the relevant clause of business rules be suspended and powers of the city be restored in these spheres.

The Centre was understood to have modified the Transaction of Business Rules for Delhi making it mandatory for all decisions of state government to be vetted by the Lt Governor, a move attacked by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as infringing on the rights of the state.

PTI