AAP renews demand for full statehood to Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has renewed its demand for full statehood to Delhi and launched a campaign in this regard at various forums. The party has also launched an online signature campaign seeking the President’s intervention.

“We elected Arvind Kejriwal and his party on February 14, 2015. Of the 70 seats, the party won 67. Yet the power lies with Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung,” says the online signature campaign, which will be forwarded to the President. 

The petition for online signature campaign – ‘The President of India: Subversion of by PM Narender Modi though the LG of Delhi’ – is on change.org. 

“Which federal system permits an unelected LG to exercise total quasi judicial and executive powers over a CM?” tweeted an AAP spokesperson in Punjab, which was re-tweeted by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

AAP leaders, however, are of the view that the President could not do much in the matter and legal recourse was the only way out for Delhi’s full statehood. 

“LG will not allow mohalla clinics to operate in Delhi, even at a time that they have gained popularity in France,” said senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, citing a media report to back his claims.

Meanwhile a farmers’ panchayat was held under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union at Nizampur village, in which farmers passed a resolution, condemning the LG’s order to revert the hike in circle rates. 

The Delhi government had announced to increase the circle rate for agriculture land from Rs 53 lakh to Rs 3 crore per acre. In a recent order, the LG annulled the previous order, citing the lack of his office’s ‘mandatory’ consent.

After the  Delhi high court’s judgement in August ruled LG’s upper hand in the national Capital, Jung constituted a three-member committee to scrutinise almost all decisions taken by the Delhi government and summoned 400 files. 

The major decisions that have been reversed by Jung include – transfer of health and PWD secretary, annulment of the appointment of Chairperson, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and declaring ab initio void constitution of Delhi Wakf Board.