They promised full statehood for Delhi in 2014, says Sisodia

NEWDELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by its national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday burnt the 2014 general election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that promised full statehood to Delhi.

Party leader and Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia read out the manifesto to AAP’S volunteers and pointed out that the very first promise made five years ago was to provide full statehood to the national capital.

Kejriwal also criticised Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari for saying that statehood will no longer be a part of the BJP’S manifesto. “Dilli tumhari baap ki nahi hain (Delhi does not belong to you nor do you own it). Who is Manoj Tiwari to comment on Delhiites like this ? Full statehood for Delhi is a right of the Delhiites, grant it otherwise the people of Delhi know how to snatch it,” he said.

Tiwari responded by tweeting, “Arvind Kejriwal, your mammoth failure as CM is hitting hard on your face. Delhi understands your frustration and this is why you are shamelessly attacking my late father who took immense pride in his poverty and was a far bigger nationalist….unlike you!” (sic)

Addressing party volunteers at AAP’S office in ITO, Kejriwal said Delhi will witness “an unprecedented struggle” for full statehood.

“Time has come for all of us to wage a joint struggle. I will not hesitate to lay down my life for the statehood of Delhi if the situation so demands,” he said.

He also criticised Tiwari for his remarks where he said Delhi could not be granted statehood as long as it had a chief minister like Kejriwal who had protested outside the Rail Bhawan in 2014. “Are they aware how many chief ministers of different states have gone on dharnas for the rights of people in their respective states, including Mr Narendra Modi himself, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat?” Kejirwal asked.

Sisodia and Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana also engaged in a Twitter spat, with the Khurana challenging the deputy chief minister to a public debate on the issue of full statehood.