While releasing its manifesto for Delhi Lok Sabha election on Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party said it would ensure 85% reservation for city residents in government jobs and colleges if granted full statehood.
“Till today, you have voted in Lok Sabha election to elect your Prime Minister. This time vote for full statehood for Delhi,” said AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal after releasing the manifesto along with other senior leaders at party headquarters.
In Delhi, land, law and order, services department, which deals with transfer and posting of officials, are under the ambit of the Lieutenant-Governor, who is appointed by the Centre.
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The AAP government has had a frayed relationship with the current and previous L-Gs on different issues related to governance.
‘Creating roadblocks’
AAP has been blaming the Centre for creating roadblocks in their developmental works for the city through the L-G.
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“Despite being the Capital, the life of an aam aadmi [common man] in Delhi has reduced to that of a second-class citizens. In any other State, the vote of a citizen has full power. The voters use this power to elect a full-fledged State government. But when the aam aadmi in Delhi go to vote, they elect a government with severely limited powers,” the manifesto states, explaining the need for full statehood.
The manifesto states that the proposal for full statehood is defined in the draft State of Delhi Bill, 2016, brought out by AAP government.
“The draft bill proposes that the New Delhi area [under the jurisdiction of New Delhi Municipal Council], which is of national and international importance be kept under the ambit of Central government. It must be noted that only 3% of Delhi’s population lives in this area. The rest of the areas will transition to a full State,” the manifesto states.
Things to do
The manifesto is divided into different areas like land, police and education, among others and each section is divided into “what we did without Full Statehood” and “what we will do after Full Statehood”.
“In every college of Delhi, 85% of seats will be reserved for the residents of Delhi,” states one of the promises under the second column.
Explaining this, Mr. Kejriwal said: “Our children do not get admission in colleges even after they secure 90% marks. If we get full statehood, then 85% of seats in colleges would be reserved for students after they pass Class XII from Delhi.”
Promises under law and order and policing include making Delhi the safest city in India for women, setting up of 50 fast-track courts for trial of all crime cases against women, 33% reservation for women in all posts under Delhi Police.
The manifesto promises that “every single family in Delhi will be able to own their own house in 10 years” and also affordable fares in Delhi metro and concessional passes for students and senior citizens.
Mohalla clinics, corruption and cleaning of the Capital also finds a mention in the party’s manifesto.