Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a broadside against the Union Government during his address on the eve of the 67th Republic Day at Chhatrasal Stadium on Monday. Attacking on the functioning of Central Government, Kejriwal said recommendation of imposing President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh is against the Constitution.
The CM claimed that he has got to know through some journalists that Delhi is next in line for President’s Rule. He, however, said given the performance of his Government in education, health and other sectors and the strength of 67 MlAs in the Assembly, he thought it was just a “rumour”.
Kejriwal said the Union Government should behave like an elder brother to the State Governments instead of “troubling” them. “According to the Constitution, the party which the people have elected has the right to govern in States. If the Government is suspended (by the Centre), it is not good. Two days before the Republic Day, the decision to recommend President Rule there is like murder of Constitution,” said Kejriwal.
Addressing the State-level Republic Day celebrations, the CM sought BJP-led Central Government’s cooperation in the functioning of Delhi Government. “I want to appeal to the Centre that we should work together and it should cooperate with the city Government. We call Bharat (India) mother, whose elder son is Centre and State Government is her younger son.
“Elder brother should not create hurdles in the works of his younger brother. Centre should behave like Ram who used to take care of his younger brothers so much. Instead of imposing President’s rule in States and ordering CBI raids, Centre should cooperate with the States,” he said.
Talking about the suicide of Rohith Vemula case in Hyderabad University, Kejriwal said, “The country should have honoured Rohith who belonged to a Dalit family... because he was meritorious student. The entire system created such an atmosphere that he had to commit suicide.
“Rohith and his friends had formed Ambedkar Students’ union. A Union Minister had declared him and his friends anti-national. I want to ask if following the footsteps of Baba Ambedkar is anti-nationalIJ” he said.
On January 21, Kejriwal had visited the University of Hyderabad where he had met the students and family members of Rohith Vemula.
It was for the first time that the Chief Minister of Delhi delivered a political speech to mark the Republic Day celebrations. On earlier occasions Sheila Diskhit who ruled Delhi for 15 long years and her predecessors Madan lal Khuarna and Sahib Singh Verma spoke about the achievements of their Governments and highlighted schemes. They never gloated on political developments, said a political analyst.