AAP accuses Centre of 'dadagiri'

The infighting in AAP has not affected the performance of the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi, senior party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said today.
"It (infighting) is not happening in the government. No, not at all, it has no bearing on the performance of the government," Sisodia said responding to questions about the internal rift in AAP.
The question was asked in the wake of recent controversies in the party and some leaders questioning Kejriwal's style of functioning and the exit of founder members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from the party's Public Affairs Committee.
Participating in a 'roundtable' conference of five chief ministers at the India Today conclave, Sisodia also attacked the Centre, accusing it of engaging in "dadagiri" by taking away powers of the Delhi government.

"Delhi is the biggest victim of the central government's dadagiri. We are not even allowed to pass laws. Delhi government can't even transfer somebody unless the Centre gives its nod," he said.
The comments of the acting Delhi chief minister came against the backdrop AAP pushing the demand for full statehood of Delhi and complaining of central interference in some of its decisions. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Kejriwal is at the moment in Bangalore undergoing naturopathy treatment.

Sisodia rued that while Delhi Development Authority, under the Centre, constructs flats, the state government has to face difficulties in obtaining land for constructing schools and hospitals for the dwellers of such flats.

"Delhi is a slave (of the Centre) unconstitutionally," he said.
The discussion saw a sharp divide between BJP and non-BJP Chief Ministers on issues like Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Gujarat model of governance and devolution of powers and funds vis-a-vis the Centre and the states.