Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal reiterates full statehood demand, slams Centre

New Delhi: Reiterating his demand for full statehood, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that the Centre was taking away the powers of the elected government through a system which was akin to the national capital being governed by the colonial “Government of India Act, 1935.”

During his Independence Day speech at Chhatrasal Stadium, Mr Kejriwal questioned whether the people of Delhi were “less patriotic” and “half-citizens,” and said he cannot fathom why their democratic rights were being “taken away.”

The chief minister claimed the citizens of Delhi were being made to feel that the value of their votes was less as compared to other states where electors have the “right to choose governments with power.”

“Under the Government of India Act 1935, people had right to choose their representatives, but Britis-hers had powers to run the government. At present, the Centre has established the system of the Raj-era law in Delhi. In Delhi, people can select the chief minister, MLAs and form government, but they don’t have the power to govern with full rights. Are we half-citizens? Despite Delh-iites giving taxes, I can’t understand as to why the democratic rights are being taken away from the people of Delhi,” Mr Kejriwal said.

The AAP chief said people of Delhi have been choosing their governments, which had been given some rights, for the last 24 years, “but in the last one-and-a-half years powers are being taken away by one by one.”