Would have done more work but for Centre's obstructions: Kejriwal (Roundup)

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the Centre of creating obstructions in the working of his Aam Aadmi Party government due to which, he said, it was unable to work to its full potential.

"Had the Centre not created an India-Pakistan like situation in Delhi, we would have done four-fold more work," Kejriwal said while answering a caller during his maiden interactive session 'Talk To AK'.

The Chief Minister alleged that the central government wanted to "paralyse" the Delhi government.

"The central government wanted to paralyse the Delhi government to stall the development of Delhi. But I want to assure everyone that we will continue to work and hire experts from outside if officers are not provided by the central government," he said.

Kejriwal on Sunday held an interactive session with people across the country through the social media, phone calls and text messages during the programme titled 'Talk to AK'. The programme was moderated by noted music director Vishal Dadlani.

During the two-hour session, the AAP convener answered queries of callers and touched upon several issues ranging from coming assembly elections in several states to farm loan waiver and the popular odd-even traffic scheme.

Kejriwal said he had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to waive off farmers' loans during the inter-state council meeting held on Saturday.

"I demanded that loans of all farmers be waived by the Centre, which should give adequate crop prices (to farmers) as per the M.S. Swaminathan report. Also, I raised the issue of increasing pulse prices due to large-scale hoarding by a few traders," he said.

Highlighting the initiatives of his government in the education sector, the AAP leader called for the repeal of the "no-detention policy" under which every student is automatically promoted to the next class till Class VIII.

"No-detention policy should end; it is ruining the country. I urge the central government to clear the pending bill we have passed against the no-detention policy in schools," the Chief Minister said.

"Don't mess around with the youth and education of this country," Kejriwal said, adding, "If this system continues the future (of young people) may be in danger and unemployment will increase. The Centre has a no-detention policy in place till Class VIII."

"But, in most cases, it is found that in Class IX students suffer from depression and even commit suicide as they can't even read and write," he said.

The AAP leader said he would meet Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar for giving reservation to Delhi students in 28 Delhi University colleges financed by the state government.

Meanwhile, responding to a question whether AAP will contest assembly polls in Gujarat next year, he said: "The party does not contest polls. It's the people of the state who fight it. Even in Delhi, the people spent (their own) money to bring us to power.

"Similarly, if people of Gujarat want us to contest, we will fight assembly elections in the state."

Asked about the Jan Lokpal Bill, Kejriwal replied: "The bills passed by the Delhi assembly, including the Jan Lokpal Bill, were either not accepted by the central government or were pending for more than eight months."

On his promise of providing Internet services in the national capital, the AAP leader said that Delhi will get free WiFi in two to three years.

"WiFi will come through fibre optics network which will take two to three years (to install). However, some parts of East Delhi will get free WiFi services by early next year," the Chief Minister added.

He said the third phase of the popular odd-even traffic scheme will be back in winter.

"The pollution in Delhi increases in winters. Therefore, we have decided implement the third-phase of the odd-even scheme in the winter. The Transport Minister is working on the details of the third phase," Kejriwal said.

While mentioning any specific date, Kejriwal said the second interactive session will be held after over a month.

--IANS

av-aks/tsb/dg