Underlining the need for full statehood status for Delhi in the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday reeled off projects and proposals of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government, including appointment of Jan lokpal and implementation of Swaraj. Sisodia charged that all these initiatives have been stalled because of “interference” by the Centre and the lieutenant Governor.
Tabling a Government’s resolution seeking full statehood status to Delhi in the Assembly, Sisodia said there are “flaws” in the system that is why an elected Government does not have power.
He said the AAP dispensation could not fulfil many of its poll promises such as appointing anti-corruption ombudsman Jan lokpal, implementing decentralisation initiative Swaraj and installing CCTV cameras across Delhi as it did not have enough powers.
“We discuss action on corruption... If Delhi was a full state, lokpal would have sent corrupt people to jail. Delhi would get lokpal within six months if it is a State,” Sisodia said, adding ‘mohalla sabha’ could not be implemented due to the same reason.
Delhi’s voters did not have power in comparison to voters in neighbouring Gurugram and Faridabad where Governments can take decision on their own, he said.
Mentioning the hike in Delhi Metro fare, Sisodia said it would not have been possible had Delhi been a full state.
Sisodia said despite the Delhi government’s objection, the Metro fares were increased.
He also raked up the issue of bureaucrats allegedly not answering questions asked by legislators in the Assembly.
“If Delhi was full State, no principal secretary would have the guts to deny answers to questions raised by MlAs in the House...Cleaning work of the Yamuna River would also been done,” he said.
lambasting the lt-Governor, Sisodia said the AAP Government wanted to set up 1,000 mohalla clinics, but the l-G created “hurdles” in their implementation.
“If Delhi was State, there would have been no need of sending files to the lt Governor...the l-G has only intention to halt works of elected Government,” he also said.
The Delhi Development Authority is not an agency, it is “property dealer”, Sisodia said while expressing anguish over “dearth of land” for Government’s projects.
Doorstep delivery of ration, formation of women security forces, regularisation of unauthorised colonies, cleaning of drains among others would have been done if Delhi was given full statehood status, the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Underlining the need for full statehood status for Delhi, the Deputy Chief Minister wondered why the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, who has the responsibility of the whole country, will bother about work in an unauthorised colony in Delhi’s Seemapuri area.
The resolution that was tabled in the Delhi Assembly states: “Keeping in view of the aspirations of people of Delhi for a better quality of life commensurate with their contribution to the economy and also noting that all the major political parties have supported the idea of full statehood to Delhi in their respective manifesto, this House resolves that National Capital Territory of Delhi should be granted full statehood immediately.”
Participating in the discussion over the issue, AAP MlA Sourabh Bharadwaj said that BJP had promised full statehood to Delhi in its manifesto.
BJP MlA Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that the AAP Government has “failed’ to fulfil its pre-poll promises that’s why it is raising the issue of full statehood to Delhi.
“The AAP has hatched conspiracy to hide its failure....If there is no drinking water for people and if health system has collapsed the issue of statehood doesn’t exist. The AAP is raising the issue of statehood at a time when the elections are coming,” Sirsa said.