The Delhi government will conduct an opinion poll, not a “referendum,” on the issue of full statehood for the national capital, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday.
The Delhi government will conduct an opinion poll, not a “referendum,” on the issue of full statehood for the national capital, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. The chief minister, who had earlier spoken of holding a referendum on the issue, said there was no provision for such a vote under the Indian Constitution.
“We will conduct an opinion poll in Delhi to assess public opinion on the issue of full statehood for Delhi,” Mr Kejriwal said during the inaugural interactive session of Talk to AK, a question and answer programme webcast on Sunday morning.
Mr Kejriwal reiterated it is important to bring the law and order issues under the jurisdiction of the state government.
Currently, issues related to law and order in the capital are controlled by the Union government through the lieutenant-governor and the Delhi government has no say in the matter. He said ever since the Centre has “taken over” the anti-corruption branch, the investigative agency has invested its energy in working against the Delhi government. The anti-graft agency angered the AAP government early this month when it summoned city water minister Kapil Mishra for questioning in the '400-crore water tanker scam, which took place during the Congress regime of Sheila Dikshit in Delhi. Criticising the functioning of the anti-corruption branch, Mr Kejriwal said: “Last year, on June 8, the Centre had sent paramilitary forces in taking over the ACB.”
“Today if I spot anyone taking bribe in front me, I will not be able to do anything. In the last one year, we sent the agency 32 cases, and people have forwarded 150 complaints. But it has taken no action. It only worked to catch Manish Sisodia, Kapil Mishra and to file an FIR against me,” he said.
Mr Kejriwal also took on lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung with whom he has been locked in a turf war over powers of the Delhi government. Blaming Mr Jung for impeding development work in the capital, he said: “The lieutenant-governor has squashed our initiatives on mid-day meal, teachers appointment and new hospitals.”
