Centre hindered three years of work: Delhi govt
NEW DELHI: After Wednesday's landmark verdict by the Supreme Court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday slammed the BJP-led central government and asserted that "if the Centre had not withdrawn the powers of elected Delhi government through illegal orders, then three years of the AAP governance would have saved."
Bidding the verdict as "big victory of people", the Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to the judiciary, and observed that the order will reinforce people's faith in the judiciary.
"If Modi govt had not withdrawn the powers of elected govt thro illegal orders, precious three years wud have been saved. People of Delhi are grateful to judiciary. Today's order reinforces people's faith in judiciary," Kejriwal tweeted on Wednesday, soon after the SC verdict.
Meanwhile, hours after the Supreme Court ruling that redefined the role of Lieutenant Governor and settled Delhi's statehood discourse, Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia said that the Aam Aadmi party is grateful to Supreme Court for clearly laying down the division of power between Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor.
Highlighting the real problem, he said, "According to the constitution, the Delhi government is mandated to legislate on all subjects except land, police and law and order. The Modi government broke this constitutional provision by adding a fourth subject called the service."
Drawing a comparison with the previous governments in the Capital and the current AAP dispensation, Sisodia said, "If previous governments had 50 per cent of the state to govern, we were left with only 10 per cent."
Blaming Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal for administrative failures, Sisodia said, "There were repeated attempts to halt governmental function by the LG," adding that the LG held back files on day-to-day issues.
The Deputy CM also said that the LG, in accordance with the Centre's advice, "misinterpreted the Constitution, thereby reducing the powers vested upon the elected government."
Meanwhile, senior leaders of AAP on Wednesday said they hope that both the central Government and LG Anil Baijal will comply with the Supreme Court order restoring to the Delhi government its power.
AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said that LG Baijal does not hold the same power any more and the Centre must let the elected government work now.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, chief spokesperson for AAP and MLA from Greater Kailash, drew a parallel between the previous Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in Delhi and the current AAP regime, and pointed out how the ruling party was obstructed from working in the national Capital.
