AAP should shun statehood demand: BJP

New Delhi: The Delhi BJP has welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on the power tussle involving the office of lieutenant-governor and the AAP government and said the ruling party should now desist from making demand for full statehood.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said that holding the Article 239AA of the Constitution as valid, the top court has clarified that the L-G will administrator and the government will have to work under the limits prescribed by the Constitution.

“The subjects, including land, law and order, services and police, will remain under the L-G. The judges have categorically stated that the Arvind Kejriwal government will have to work in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and will have to inform the L-G before and after its decision taken in accordance with law,” Mr Tiwari added.

Lawyer and BJP MP from New Delhi, Meenakshi Lekhi said that today’s judgment of the Supreme Court is the victory of the Constitution. Referring to AAP’s decision to continue its movement for full statehood to Delhi after the apex court verdict, Ms Lekhi said that this would amount to contempt of court.

Lok Sabha member from East Delhi Maheish Girri said that Delhi’s administrative head is L-G and there is no need to do politics of chaos in the city and now Mr Kejriwal should quit drama and dharna politics.

South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri said that today’s verdict has established that the Constitution of India is supreme and the government must follow its administrative  arran-gements. “The development works have come to a standstill in Delhi and the main reason is that the government does not frame schemes according to law. Today’s judgment is warning to Mr Kejriwal to work for the people according to law,”  Mr  Bidhuri added.

BJP MP from Northwest Delhi, Dr Udit Raj said that Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar had made it clear that since Delhi is the capital of India, it will continue to be a Union Territory and today the Supreme Court has reaffirmed it.

The BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said the apex court verdict has directed the AAP government to follow the law and it is expected that they will do so.