AAP government releases draft bill on full statehood

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal with his deputy Manish Sisodia at a press conference at Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday regarding the draft bill seeking full statehood for Delhi. (Photo: Bunny Smith)

Delivering on one of its major poll promises, the AAP government on Wednesday released a draft bill on full statehood for Delhi, seeking to bring the police, land, municipal corporations and bureaucracy under its control, and invited suggestions from the public till June 30, opening front for another battle with the Centre.

AAP chief and CM Arvind Kejriwal invited public suggestions through fullstatehood.delhi@gov.in and fullstat-ehood.delhi@gmail.com, which he said will remain active till June 30.

According to The State of Delhi Bill 2016 released on the AAP government’s website for public comments, New Delhi (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment areas will be kept out of the jurisdiction of the proposed Delhi state. The post of lieutenant-governor will be replaced by governor. In the bill, the city government has advocated creation of a separate official cadre for the state. Besides, the high court for the existing national capital territory will be called the High Court of Delhi, the draft bill states. Urging his rivals, the BJP and the Congress, to “rise above differences,” Mr Kejriwal said an all-party meeting will be held on the issue and quoted from old manifestos of both the parties wherein they had promised full statehood for Delhi. The AAP chief, when asked about his government’s action plan if the draft is rejected by the Centre, said, “The BJP has struggled the most on the issue. They have consistently raised it. We are merely taking their resolve forward by inviting public opinion on this draft.”

Mr Kejriwal said he will write letters on the issue and also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to garner support for the draft bill, which keeps the high-profile NDMC area out of the jurisdiction of the proposed full state.

The bill also states that all consequential amendments to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957, the Delhi Development Act 1957, the Delhi Police Act 1978 and other statutes passed by Parliament in respect of matters enumerated in the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution will be carried out by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Delhi.