SC rejects AAP plea, party gear up to raise issue at polls

Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party will take the battle for full statehood to the peoples' bench and will seek votes on the plank as it considers "unfortunate" the Supreme Court verdict over the issue of transfers and postings of Delhi government officers.

"The government will do whatever it can under the Constitution to seek justice. We understand that until the city is given full statehood, nothing much can be done," party leader Gopal Rai said, here on Thursday.

"We will go to the peoples' bench to seek justice and will ask people to vote for us in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on the issue. We will get full statehood through people. The statehood issue will play a crucial role in the upcoming elections," he said.

Atishi, the party's potential candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, said if people felt that the picture should be changed, they should vote for the AAP.

"People should vote for the AAP in all the seven seats to let the voice of Delhi reach Parliament. Else, the people and the Delhi government will continue to suffer," she said.

Appealing voters to vote for the party in the Lok Sabha polls, she said then "we won't have to fight the battle in court, but in Parliament."

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the government had been suffering for the past four years and the real solution was in the hands of the people.

"Full statehood for Delhi will solve all these issues. In the coming Lok Sabha elections, don't vote for electing a PM. Give all the seven seats to the AAP, so that in the next five years, we can force the government to give full statehood to Delhi," he said.

A Supreme Court Division Bench on Thursday delivered a split verdict on transfers and postings of Delhi government officers.

While Justice A.K. Sikri said transfers and postings of joint secretaries and officers above will be in the domain of the Lieutenant Governor, for those below them, the recommendation will be routed through the Council of Ministers of the elected government in Delhi.

However, Justice Ashok Bhushan differed saying the Delhi government has no control over appointments. Transfers and appointments of "higher" officers will rest with the Centre, he added.

--IANS

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