The AAP Government, which has sought a referendum on the Statehood of Delhi, has said that it will not shy away from launching an agitation on the issue. “It is a political issue. And if need be, we will launch agitation. The AAP Government will not sit quietly and no one can stop Delhi from getting Statehood,” Delhi law Minister Kapil Mishra said.
Meanwhile, reacting to the AAP’s demand, BJP Delhi president Satish Upadhyay told the media late on Monday that the proposal for a referendum on the issue of full Statehood is a yet another evidence of the AAP Government and its Chief Minister’s anti-constitutional anarchist nature.
Further, he said that it appears that the political vision of Kejriwal is inspired by Naxalism or terrorism because every issue he raises is by going to non-constitutional extremes. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday had asked the urban development department to hold a referendum on the Statehood for Delhi.
Fighting for the AAP Government’s cause, Mishra said, “People (in States) have rights on their land and police and the citizens of Delhi should also enjoy these rights. What you are giving to others, give us too.”
“The AAP has political will. It is high time people in Delhi got it (Statehood). We will not tolerate step-motherly treatment towards people of Delhi.”
“legal complication will not come. Only the BJP and the Congress will backtrack from their promise,” Mishra said in his office.
Constitutionally, Delhi is a quasi-State with the lieutenant-Governor (l-G) as the State head. The l-G also has control over the law & order and land in the National Capital Territory (NCT).
In the past, there have been demands from the AAP for Statehood for Delhi but the ruling BJP has remained unmoved. “The BJP and the Congress had promised the status of full Statehood to Delhi. They forgot their promise, but the AAP did not,” he said.
“What is the harm in taking opinion from public. Those who are afraid of taking people’s opinion are themselves ousted by people” “Proposals stop when there is a lack of political will. lK Advani had brought legislation in the Parliament but he could not get it passed despite his Government being at the Centre,” he added.