Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today invoked Delhiites' pride to reiterate the AAP's demand for full statehood status to Delhi, saying that fight for the issue will go to any extend to make it happen for the interests of the national capital.
Kejriwal, who today made his first public appearance at a public function after returning from Dharmasala and High Court order that stamped the supremacy of Lt Governor in administration of the capital, also sought to know as to why a resident of Delhi carries less "value" as compared to a citizen of Haryana where government has "full power".
Without taking names of any political party and making direct reference to anyone, the Delhi Chief Minister said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will continue to fight for full statehood by going to any extent as goons in the high echelons" of the government hinder the work of Delhi.
After unveiling the statue of Delhi's first CM Chaudhary Braham Prakash at government run Charak Sansthan in Najafgarh's Khera Dabar here, Kejriwal said, "Why should value of Delhi citizens' vote be lesser than that of a Haryana voter? Why should the power of a government elected by a Haryana voter be greater than in Delhi? This is insult of Delhi citizens which is wrong... It is an attack on their ashmita (pride)."
The CM also said that the people of Delhi are part of this country and as we are the capital of India and by that means, we have a greater right to have equal powers, but it is unfortunate that our vote has "no value".
He further said that the issues we are fighting are what first CM Chaudhary Braham Prakash was fighting for in 1950-51. He too was saying Delhi should get full statehood and we are also asking for the same.
"Like Choudhary Braham Prakash ji, once we decide to do something we do it on our own and for this, even if it requires twisting my fingers a bit. Kai baari seedhi ungli sey ghee nahin nikalta phir ungli tedhi karni padti hai -- Sometimes it is not possible to achieve the goal with a straight finger so you have to twist it ... We are up against goons sitting in the higher echelons of power," he added.
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This is his first public attack on the BJP-led Centre after he returned to Delhi from the 10-day vipassana session in Dharmasala in Himachal Pradesh.
Since the Aam Aadmi Party has come to power, the Kejriwal government and the Centre have been at loggerhead on a range of issues including transfer and postings of bureaucrats, Commission of Inquiries on DDCA and alleged transport scam.
Kejriwal also said it was wrong to say that the AAP government is delaying the implementation of land pooling policy.
He further said that the city government is being accused of delaying this policy.
Government had sent the file pertaining to the policy to the Centre saying that Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will keep 40 per cent under the policy, 10% land be given to it so that government can build schools and hospital in Delhi, he said.
"For a long time, we have been asking the DDA to give us land for making 10 hospitals, but it is not giving the land us," Kejriwal added.
