Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken on Friday said that the AAP Government raised the demand for full Statehood for Delhi to hide its failures to perform. He also demanded that the Government come out with a 'White Paper' to explain to people, about the benefits and drawbacks of full statehood.
Maken said the city gets many facilities from the Centre for being Capital of the country. The Central Government has spent Rs6,953 fund for Delhi Police in the Central budget for 2017-18. The super-specialty hospitals including AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar lohia and others are funded by the Centre as they receive Rs3,000 crore annually.
There are three central universities and Metro Rail and these are because Delhi is the national Capital. Maken said that Delhi also has three Central Universities, including Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Jamia Milia Islamia University and thses are being funded by the Central Government. “In 2016-17, these three Central Universities got Rs2633 crore share from the Central Government. While the other universities spread in other states such as Calcutta University which get funding from the Bengal Government while the Bangalore University receive funding from the Karnataka Government,” he said.
He further said that the Delhi metro got Rs 70,432 crore from the Central Government for its three phases, while the Delhi Government's contribution has been 12.3 per cent of the total cost, which was Rs 8,682 crore. These all advantages and aids are given by the Government at Centre because Delhi is the national capital,” he said.
“It is fine if any other benefits come besides it. AAP leaders are raising full statehood issue to cover up the failures of their government.” Maken said his party ruled Delhi for 15 years within the limits of the existing Constitutional provisions while the AAP is complaining that it has not been able to work due to lack of full statehood.
“Kejriwal should come out with a White Paper giving details on how Delhi will be benefited by full statehood,” the Congress leader said. On the demand for statehood, he said, “It is a complex issue that needs to be deliberated as the national capital status comes with certain privileges that will have to be given up. Full statehood and status of national capital cannot co-exist.”
Maken also cornered the AAP over the lokpal issue saying the party walked out of the government in 2014, accusing that it was not being allowed to table lokpall Bill due to Congress pressure.
“Finally when they brought the Bill, they came up with the weakest form of the lokpal,” he alleged.