Full statehood for Delhi is first demand from new PM: Vardhan

Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan today said the first issue he will take up for the city with the new Prime Minister would be grant of full statehood to the national capital as it would help overcoming the problem of multiplicity of authorities.
Vardhan, who was BJP's Chief Ministerial nominee in the assembly polls, felt a lot of hurdles for ensuring overall development of the city will automatically get resolved if Delhi was given full statehood.
"The first issue we will take up with Narendra Modiji as Prime Minister will be to grant full-statehood for Delhi," Vardhan told PTI.
In the campaign for Lok Sabha polls, BJP had promised to declare Delhi a full state if the party came to power, noting that it will help ensure proper coordination between various agencies.

BJP had swept the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi winning all seven seats with huge margins ranging from over one lakh to 2. 6 lakh votes.
"The NDA government had brought a bill to grant statehood to Delhi and it was tabled in Parliament," he said.

The bill was referred to a Parliamentary Committee following reservations by Congress.
Vardhan said after the NDA was out of power, the Bill was never taken up by UPA government.
Exuding confidence that the Government under Modi will be able to address various issues faced by Delhiites, Vardhan said the Delhi BJP will apprise the new dispensation about key problems facing the city.

"We will also take up with Modiji various key issues concerning Delhi.We will be pressing for resolving issues relating to the Delhi Master Plan 2021.We will take up issues relating to the three municipal corporation," said Vardhan.
Identifying water scarcity in Delhi as a major issue, he said Delhi BJP will also seek appropriate solution to the problem.