The Aam Aadmi Party will stress on its ‘great work’ and reiterate its demand for full statehood for Delhi during its campaign for the 2019 general elections that would comprise 280 rallies and 3,000 gatherings, a Minister has said.
“We have done great work in the sectors of health, education, farming, electricity, and water. Doorstep delivery of services, pension to old and widows, and minimum wages for the labourers have also been of great help to the people,” Delhi’s Labour Minister Gopal Rai, told IANS.
“Our narrative is that the people gave us a chance to work in Delhi, we did our best in the given situation and power. We could have done a lot more. But because Delhi is not a full state, we lagged behind so much in terms of what we could have done. We want to work more for the city and its people,” Rai added.
“After paying taxes close to Rs 1.5 lakh crore, Delhi only gets Rs 325 crore from the Centre. Other states have their fixed share of the tax they pay, Delhi still depends on the Centre’s wish for the money. If given full statehood, the Centre will have to give us more money. Issues like women’s safety, unemployment, and land crisis can also be solved through statehood. It is also for sure that the pace of work wil increase,” he said.
Attacking the BJP for not fulfilling its promises, he said the ruling party at the Centre had promised full statehood to Delhi but none of its seven MPs raised the issue in Parliament.
“The fight for full statehood has passed from the Delhi Assembly to Parliament. The full statehood movement needs to reach Parliament and our (likeminded) MPs will take up the issue there,” Rai said.