It was the first “chai pe charcha” for the Chief Minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday as the two exchanged pleasantries and discussed important issues regarding the development of the national Capital over tea at 7 Race Course Road.
A day after having back-to-back high-profile meetings with Union Cabinet Ministers and the President, Kejriwal, along with his close aide and probable Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, paid a courtesy call on Modi on Thursday at 10.30 am. AAP chief discussed one of the priority issues for the party — full statehood for Delhi.
According to Sisodia, the meeting went on for nearly 15 minutes where the PM was briefed about the importance of giving full statehood to Delhi. “The PM gave us a very warm welcome. We brought up the issue of full statehood for Delhi. We explained to him that we both (AAP, BJP) are here after getting full majority.
The State is divided in several parts and with both of us here, it is a golden opportunity to put Delhi together by giving it full statehood. I briefed him on several issues as well. He (Modi) heads the Central Government which includes international issues as well as national issues, so while he is busy with that, we will manage Delhi,” Sisodia told The Pioneer.
On statehood issue, the PM reportedly said, “Nothing is permanent in a democracy. We will consider it.” Sisodia added that this meeting with the PM was more of a courtesy call and there will be more agenda-centric meetings in the future.
Kejirwal invited Modi to his oath-taking ceremony at the Ramlila Maidan on February 14. However, the Prime Minister expressed his regret and said that he had prior commitments hence he could not be present for the function. Kejriwal also asked the Prime Minister for the Centre’s support to which the Prime Minister said he will full support.