Sisodia rakes up issue of full statehood

Raking up the issue of full statehood for Delhi, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday listed projects and proposals of the AAP government, including appointment of anti- corruption ombudsman Jan Lokpal and implementation of decentralisation initiative Swaraj, had been stuck because of “interference” by the Centre and the lieutenant- governor.

Tabling a government resolution seeking grant of full statehood status to Delhi, Mr Sisodia said that there were “flaws” in the system which was why an elected government did not have power.

He said that the AAP dispensation could not fulfil many of its poll promises such as appointing anti- corruption ombudsman Jan Lokpal, implementing decentralisation initiative Swaraj and installing CCTV cameras across Delhi as it did not have enough powers.

“We discuss action on corruption... If Delhi was a full state, Lokpal would have sent corrupt people to jail. Delhi would get Lokpal within six months if it was a state,” Mr Sisodia said, adding ‘ mohalla sabha’ could not be implemented due to the same reason.

“Every country in the world has a capital. People from all over the country live in the national capital. No government can claim to be democratic if they don’t consider the issues faced by the people living in the capital. For everything we have to go to the L- G and his only job is to stop the Delhi government from doing good work,” the finance minister added.

Mr Sisodia also said that their government cannot even decide the Metro fare and the “multiplicity of agencies have created obstacles in all round development and progress of Delhi as a world class city.