BJP hails verdict, asks AAP to drop statehood demand

New Delhi: The Delhi unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday has welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on the power tussle between the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Aam Aadmi Party government of Delhi, and said that AAP should now shun its "political demand" of full statehood to the city.

BJP leaders said the apex court verdict has directed the AAP government to follow the law and it is expected that they will do so.

BJP Delhi president Manoj Tiwari said that the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has delivered a "categorical, logical, firm judgment" which has established that the Constitution of India is the boss of Delhi.

"Holding the Article 239 AA of the Constitution as valid, the Supreme Court has clarified that LG will the administrator of Delhi and the government will have to work under the limits prescribed by the Constitution. The subjects including land, law and order, services and police will remain under the LG.

"The judges have categorically stated that the Kejriwal government will have to work in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and inform the LG before and after its decision taken in accordance with law. They have also clarified that Delhi is the national Capital and, in accordance with the Constitution, Delhi cannot be given the status of full-fledged state," Tiwari said.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said that the entire machinery of the Kejriwal government and AAP is misleading the public as part of its planned strategy.

"Contrary to their propaganda, the court has cautioned that anarchy has no place in democracy.

"It has given judgment in favour of maintaining the status and respecting constitutional boundaries, which the anarchist CM has always tried to dismantle," Gupta said.

"The CM must not divert public attention from his failures by bringing the issue of statehood on fore-front," he added.

New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi said that the judgment of the Supreme Court is the "victory of the Constitution and the judges have indicated to the Kejriwal government that nobody can be allowed to work beyond the limits."