New Delhi: 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. Over 100 retired and serving bureaucrats, in a meeting on May 20, had condemned "politicisation" of appointments of senior officials and urged both Kejriwal and Jung to create a conducive atmosphere so that they could discharge their duties freely.
Sisodia also accused the media of "spreading lies" and maligning the image of Kejriwal. He, however, qualified his
remark saying, "We are not against the media but lies." "We hope to table the Jan Lokpal Bill in the next Assembly session. We have not stopped probe against any senior person or official.
The case against Ambani (Mukesh) is being pursued at a fast pace," he added.
The Centre had drawn ire of Arvind Kejriwal government after it issued a notification giving absolute powers to the LG in appointment of bureaucrats and clarifying that he need not "consult" the Delhi chief minister on subjects like police and public order.
"Whenever there will be general consensus in the country on giving full statehood status to the national capital, it is
possible. But till that is not done, full statehood rights cannot be given to the state government," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said yesterday.
He was asked about BJP's views on granting full statehood to Delhi, as promised by it in the past.
