CM to go on indefinite fast from March 1

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that he will launch an indefinite hunger strike from March 1 to press the demand for full statehood to Delhi. Addressing the Budget session of the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal stepped up his attack on the Centre and said the Delhi government is unable to perform its duties towards people of the city because it lacked power.

"I will sit on an indefinite hunger strike for full statehood to Delhi from March 1. People have given us so much that even if we have to sacrifice our lives for them, it is immaterial," Kejriwal told the House. He claimed the people of Delhi are facing "injustice and humiliation" since independence because the government elected by them lacked the power to work for them.

"The elected government of Delhi cannot give people justice, work for them and take up development works because it lacks power and the Central government obstructs its functioning. Is the value of Delhi voters less than other states?" he questioned.

Attacking the Modi government, Kejriwal told the Assembly, "The people of Delhi have been exploited by the Central government to such an extent that even the Britishers could not have committed this much discrimination and exploitation." He also attacked the L-G of Delhi, Anil Baijal, saying that the latter has left no stone unturned in disrupting the development of Delhi.

He said, the Centre has control over Delhi Police, municipal corporations and DDA, which is why people "are suffering due to high crime rate, insanitation and lack of development". "By giving us 67 of the 70 seats in Delhi, the city has done so much for us. From nowhere, it has made us ministers and MLAs. In return of this favour, even if we lose our lives, it will be less," he said.

"From March 1, the movement for full statehood will be started. It will not end until the city is declared a full state," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said.