Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant full statehood status to Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is expected to raise the pitch in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls in an emphatic manner.
AAP leaders said it will hold a door-to-door campaign to tell people how the BJP had done them “injustice” on the issue.
Reacting to the PM’s greetings to the people of Arunachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day on Twitter, Kejriwal tweeted, “Sir. Delhi is also waiting for its statehood day. U had promised to the people of Delhi that you wud grant full statehood to Delhi. Kindly do it sir. People of Delhi have faced injustice for 70 years now.” (Sic)
According to its strategy for the general election, the AAP will distribute the BJP’s manifestoes for previous elections, including that of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, in which, it said, the saffron party had supported the demand for full statehood to Delhi.
The BJP’s Delhi unit, however, said the campaign was a “new drama” by the AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal.
Recently, in a major setback to the AAP Government in Delhi, two judges of the Supreme Court agreed that the Centre should have the final word on posting and transfer of bureaucrats in the national capital administration, but their disagreement on finer details resulted in a split verdict and the matter got referred to a larger bench.
“We will go door-to-door, telling people how the BJP has done them injustice on the issue of full statehood,” Delhi AAP convener Gopal Rai had said on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday suggested he could enter the Prime Minister’s residence to stage a ‘dharna’ in support of his demand for full-statehood status to Delhi.
“This (Lok Sabha) election is very interesting. Delhi’s seven seats can form the Government or it can spoil chances of Government formation. If we get these seats, we will ensure Delhi gets full statehood.
“Last time, we staged ‘dharna’ inside LG house for our demands. If need be, we will enter the Prime Minister’s house and stage ‘dharna’ for this demand,” he said at an event organised by Bar Council of Delhi at the Tis Hazari Courts premises.
In June 2018, Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues had staged a nine-day sit-in at Delhi lt Governor’s official residence in support of his demands, including LG’s approval for doorstep delivery of ration scheme.
He has been demanding full statehood to Delhi, claiming in absence of the status, his government faces hurdles in delivering optimum governance to the people of Delhi.
On Wednesday at the bar council, Kejriwal, hitting at the BJP, alleged the party with “only three members” in the 70-member assembly had the power of running the national Capital.
Speaking at the function to facilitate him for allocating Rs 50 crore for lawyers’ under ‘Social Security Scheme’ in Delhi government’s coming budget, he questioned why Delhi was not being granted the full statehood?
“Why don’t we get the full statehood? Are we not patriotic enough or we do not pay taxes,” he asked.
Kejriwal said his predecessor Sheila Dikshit had several powers, like transfer and posting of the officials, but all these were “taken away” from the Aam Aadmi Party government.
“Power is with those who got three seats out of 70. How will we run the government if this is how things are? I can’t transfer even a peon,” he claimed.In a statement, the Bar Council said that as of now the state government has promised a grant of Rs 50 crore and it would enhance it as per the requirement of the lawyers.
“The demand for social security has been going on for many years. In case of sudden demise of a lawyer, his family is left hand to mouth. There is no system in place for medical help,” the statement said.
“We need schemes like insurance, medical aid, health cover, payment of lump sum amount in case of sudden demise, pension, schemes for young lawyers including stipend, housing and adequate infrastructural facilities in various courts,” the statement said.
