Delhi govt accuses Centre of U-turn on statehood, 'dadagiri'

Modi govt has been trying to run Delhi 'by hook or by crook' through the Lt Governor, says Manish Sisodia

Firing yet another salvo at the Centre, AAP government today accused Narendra Modi dispensation of making the "biggest U-turn" on BJP's poll promises of granting full statehood to Delhi, and said it would not keep mum in the face of "bullying".

As the AAP government marked 100 days in office, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the Modi government has been trying to run Delhi "by hook or by crook" through the Lt Governor.

"Modi government minister Harsh Vardhan has been saying it repeatedly...Modiji himself said and they put it in their manifesto to give Delhi a full statehood. Now, when the issue has come up, let alone our right, or talking about it, they are showing dadagiri (dadagiri dikha rahen hain). And, Delhi government will not be mum on the issue," he said.

The remarks came a day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that full statehood rights cannot be given to Delhi unless there is consensus in the country over the issue as the matter concerns the national capital.

Sisodia also accused the BJP of being "scared of a contest" between the chief minister and the prime minister.

"The Centre's biggest U-turn in the last one year is on the issue of giving full statehood status to Delhi...Why is the BJP scared of a contest between Kejriwal and Modi?" he said.

Sisodia was quoted as saying this by the AAP's official Twitter handle.

The appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary by the LG had triggered a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and the Lt Governor Najeen Jung with Kejriwal questioning the LG's authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.

Alleging that plans were afoot to save the "betrayers" of the national capital, Sisodia said that the AAP government was working as well as fighting, and "Delhiites are happy with the work of the government".

"Officers behind the 'transfer-posting' industry in Delhi are playing politics after their retirement. We are working as well as fighting. People have not elected us to play chess or put our arms around these betrayers," Kejriwal's trusted lieutenant said.