AAP seeks Congress support for Delhi's full statehood

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sought the support of the Congress party in realising Delhi's dream of full-statehood.

In a letter to Rahul Gandhi, AAP leader and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said the Congress manifesto seemed to have incorporated the issue of statehood but without doing any "homework or research."

"Your manifesto states that Congress promises to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 to make it clear that the Lieutenant Governor shall act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers except in matters concerning the three reserved subjects," writes Rai in the letter.

"This is factually incorrect. These four lines do not convey anything. Firstly, aid and advice have nothing to do with the GNCTD Act. It is extremely disappointing that after having promised statehood for Delhi for decades, your party has now gone back on its promise," reads the letter.

"It is time for a fresh Constitutional amendment to provide Delhi with full statehood," he said, adding that "Can you imagine that in the current set-up, the elected Delhi government has no powers to even transfer a peon?"

"From senior most to contractual staff, not a single employee reports to the elected government. According to the current scheme of things, the L-G can veto any proposal of the elected government. Can this be allowed to continue," asked Rai.

Rai also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government at the Centre, saying that "since 2014 onwards when Modi came to power, Delhi has witnessed its worst period, with the trampling of democracy and murder of federalism."

"Since 2015, when a new government was elected by the people of Delhi with a historic mandate, Modi government unleashed the worst kind of vendetta against it."

Rai also claimed that Delhi does not virtually get any Central financial assistance and earns on its own.

All seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will go to polls in a single phase on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.