Continuing his party’s campaign in support for full statehood for Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday hit out at the BJP, saying that the party’s government at the Centre and its Delhi unit president Manoj Tiwari, were “nobody to decide” on the issue.
Mr. Kejriwal was speaking to workers at the party office before he, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and other leaders burned copies of the BJP’s 2014 Lok Sabha election manifesto for Delhi, in which the party had promised full statehood for Delhi.
Referring to Mr. Tiwari’s recent statement that full statehood would not figure in the BJP manifesto this time, Mr. Kejriwal said: “I want to tell Manoj Tiwari and his BJP’s Central government that ‘you are nobody to decide about statehood for Delhi since Delhi does not belong to you...Full statehood for Delhi is a right of Delhiites, grant it otherwise the people of Delhi know how to snatch it’.”
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He also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he had made the promise of full statehood before the 2014 elections, but had betrayed Delhiites on the same.
Referring to sacrifices made by freedom fighters, he said: “Prime Minister Modi and his father did not sacrifice for the country. They have no right to trample the rights of Delhiites”.
Hits out at KhuranaADVERTISEMENT
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He also hit out at Harish Khurana, a Delhi BJP leader and the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, for “betraying his father” as the ex-CM had supported the demand for full statehood. Referring to late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also supporting the demand, Mr. Kejriwal asked Mr. Modi to give full statehood to Delhi or stop “politicising” Vajpayee’s name.
Dares for debate
Meanwhile, Mr. Khurana challenged Mr. Kejriwal and Mr. Sisodia for a public debate on the issue of full statehood for Delhi.
After the Chief Minister referred to Madan Lal Khurana in his speech, a furious Mr. Harish Khurana said: “It is true that my father’s soul must be tormented today, but do you know why, it must be wondering whether this was the reason why he had struggled to establish a Vidhan Sabha in Delhi. At the fact that a Chief Minister will come who will destroy Delhi.”
In an ongoing Twitter debate, Mr. Sisodia said to Mr. Harish Khurana: “Harish Khurana ji what I understand was also comprehended by late Madan Lal Khurana Sahab, but its sad that you have still not understood the anti-Delhi politics of Modi ji. Do not betray Delhi...just tell if Delhi should have full statehood or not?”.
Mr. Khurana replied saying that such issues were solved through discussion and added many departments, which did not come under the Delhi government, came under it due to his father’s talks with the Centre.
“You are crying over what you do not have. You could have done much with what you have. The powers of the Delhi government were known when you came to power. Excuses are being made because promises were not fulfilled. Why you did not demand full statehood before election time?” Mr. Khurana said in his reply to Mr. Sisodia.