Centre likely to deny full statehood to Delhi

By NewsGram Staff Writer

A top official of Home Ministry indicated that Delhi won't be granted full statehood, by stating that nowhere in the world any capital city has such a status.

"Full statehood was not granted to Delhi even at the time when the BJP was in power in both the Capital and the Centre. Nowhere in the world does the country's capital city enjoys a full statehood status," a top Home Ministry official said as reported by an English daily.

Reportedly the ministry, in a reply in Parliament last month, had also said that there was no proposal before it to grant full statehood to Delhi.

The BJP had made a promise of granting full statehood to Delhi before the 2013 elections, which was echoed by the BJP during the Lok Sabha polls as well. However, its manifesto before the 2015 elections did not mention anything on the full statehood demand.

Talking about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's demand for full statehood, the official said, "Yes, Kejriwal had raised this matter with the home minister. But the same is not likely to happen."

As reported by the Economic Times, the ministry also sees little merit in Kejriwal's earlier demand to 'bifurcate' the Capital with the Centre retaining its powers over land, police and public order in NDMC areas with the rest of the Capital being under direct control of the chief minister.

"That will breed total confusion and is ruled out as well," another official said.