Draft Bill on full statehood to Delhi to be out next week

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said AAP government will soon make public draft Bill for Delhi's full statehood, bringing the contentious issue to the fore and setting the stage for another showdown with the Centre.
"Draft Bill for Statehood of Delhi ready. Will be soon placed in public domain for comments n suggestions from public," Kejriwal tweeted.
Sources said, the NDMC area which houses the Rashtrapati Bhavan, residences of the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, parliamentarians and foreign missions may remain untouched in the Bill which may be passed in a special session of Delhi Assembly.
"The government will make public draft bill for statehood of Delhi next week and seek comments and suggestions from the masses. After receiving suggestions and comments from people, the draft bill will be tabled in Delhi Cabinet for its nod.

"Once the draft bill is passed by the Cabinet, it will then be tabled in Delhi Assembly. If the bill is passed there, government will send it to the Centre for Constitutional amendment," a source said, adding, Parliament will take a final decision on the full statehood for Delhi.
Granting full statehood to the national capital is one of the major electoral promises of Aam Aadmi Party, in the absence of which it has frequently clashed with the BJP-led Centre over matters of jurisdiction since assuming office.

Last year, AAP had planned to hold a referendum on the issue, which was later shelved after constitutional experts said anything of that sort would be "unconstitutional".

The BJP has had an ambivalent stance on the issue although the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had introduced a Bill in Parliament in 2003 to confer full statehood to Delhi, which was never passed.
In its manifesto, AAP had declared that it will push for full statehood acting within the constitutional framework and using its moral and political authority.
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Senior party leader Sanjay Singh said AAP has been talking about granting full statehood to Delhi since its inception.
"Hurdles are being created over small issues. Questions are being asked on what did we do in the Sheila Dikshit (Commonwealth) case. Now the report is with the ACB and questions are being raised with Arvind Kejriwal.

"People ask Delhi Chief Minister questions if any crime is committed in the national capital. We can be held accountable if the police is with us," he said.
Party leader Ashutosh said of the 23 bills passed by the Delhi Legislative Assembly since last year, only 19 have been passed.
"23 bills have been passed with the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Of these four were Appropriation Bills. Why are the remaining 19 bills still pending. The Centre is creating constitutional crisis," he claimed.
"After one year, the Home Ministry says the Lt Governor should use his wisdom to pass the Bill. And, if there is any conflict then send it to the President. If he has any queries, then he will send it to us," Ashutosh said.