AAP government completes 100 days in office, demand for full statehood for Delhi grows

Delhi(dna): As the turf war between Aam Aadmi Party government and the office of Lt governor of Delhi entered its third week, speculations are ripe that Arvind Kejriwal-led regime is planning to raise the demand of full statehood for the National Capital in the coming week.

Completing his 100 days in office on Sunday, the chief minister of Delhi held a meeting with all his legislators at his residence to discuss notification backing the L-G's authority to appoint bureaucrats. The Centre had also stated that the anti-corruption branch of Delhi government had no powers to take action against central officials, including categories like IAS, IPS, DANICS and DANIPS.

Following the notification Kejriwal called an emergency session of the Delhi Assembly on May 26 and 27. Government sources told dna that the Assembly is likely to pass a resolution terming the notification 'unconstitutional' and also added that several MLA's on being asked their feedback raised the issue of statehood. "As of now the notification issued by the Centre needs to be addressed immediately.

The assembly will look to pass a resolution against it. But there are string voice within the government calling for complete statehood. The same was discussed in the meeting and most like Kejriwal will talk about during his speech on Monday," the source said.

Senior AAP leader Deepak Bajpai while speaking to dna said that full statehood remains to be a priority for the state government but there there was a dire need to define constitutional boundaries. "The issue at hand is that of defining constitutional boundaries. The notification, as per many constitutional experts, is unconstitutional and clipping powers of government officials including its anti corruption unit is a matter of concern," said Bajpai.

Legal backing

A Delhi government statement said that legal opinion from noted constitutional expert K K Venugopal and former Solicitor General of India Gopal Subramanium had been placed before the cabinet. Both have supported the AAP government's assertion and interpretation of the law to seek a say in matters linked to transfer and posting of officials and on issues linked to law and order, police and land, subjects under the purview of the Centre.