Full statehood for Delhi: Kejriwal urges all parties to unite

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to all political parties to unite to demand full statehood for the national capital and said it was not just the Aam Aadmi Party’s fight.

“It’s not just the Aam Aadmi Party’s fight... All parties should come together to support this demand. We will convene an all-party meeting soon to seek support for complete statehood for Delhi,” Kejriwal told a gathering of party workers at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.

“I want to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his promise to grant full statehood to Delhi. If he doesn’t deliver on it, his party will not get a single seat in the next elections,” the chief minister said.

Kejriwal alleged the continuous tussle with the lieutenant governor and the alleged strike by bureaucrats was due to lack of statehood.

Once Delhi becomes a full state, it would witness spurt in the development work, the chief minister said, adding his party was fighting for the dignity of Delhi’s voters.

At a special session recently, the Delhi Assembly adopted a resolution on full statehood. Kejriwal had then, said he would campaign for the BJP if the Centre granted full statehood to Delhi.

AAP on Sunday launched a signature campaign titled “Delhi Mange Apna Haq” to gain support from 10 lakh people on the full statehood issue. The campaign will start on July 3 and end on July 25.

(With inputs from agencies)