Amid a raging row over the exercise of powers in Delhi, the Centre on Saturday said that full statehood rights cannot be given to the Delhi Government unless there is a general consensus in the country on the issue as it is the national Capital.
“Whenever there will be general consensus in the country on giving full statehood status to the national Capital, it is possible. But till then, full statehood rights cannot be given to the State Government,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, when asked about the BJP’s views on granting full statehood to Delhi, as promised by it in the past.He, however, noted that the confusion over the rights exercised by the Centre and the elected Government would lead to “offices being shut down” and to avoid that the Home Ministry had issued the classificatory notification on Thursday night.
“If there is confusion, then offices will be locked. And to ensure offices are not shut, it is Centre’s responsibility to clarify and Home Ministry has fulfilled that responsibility by issuing a classificatory notification to make it clear what rights rest with the Centre and what with the elected Government,” he said. On the ongoing controversy between the lt Governor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the appointment of officers, he said people of Delhi were still waiting for governance by the elected Government even after 100 days of being in power.
“The elected Government should strive and the public is waiting for 100 days that within the domain of those rights, it initiates steps to provide governance in Delhi,” he said. Elaborating the issue, he said, “Delhi is a Union Territory, which is constitutionally under the Centre, but both UTs — Delhi and Puducherry — have elected Governments and both have been given some constitutional rights. Other rights rest with the Centre which are exercised by the lt Governor and there is no scope for any gray area.”