Review statehood demand: BJP

New Delhi: Changing its stand on the old demand of full statehood, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari on Friday said that the demand must be reviewed. His comment came after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called a special Delhi Assembly session to demand and discuss full statehood for the city.

Mr Tiwari also questioned the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s seriousness on the issue of full statehood. “If he serious on the said issue, then why he has not attended the ongoing Assembly session. It seems that Mr Kejriwal is not serious and trying to divert his government’s failure by raising the issue of full statehood,” Mr Tiwari added.

Explaining the logic behind reviewing the full statehood demand of Delhi, Mr Tiwari said that Delhi is national capital and several events and function of national importance held here and city government should not disturb it.

Mr Tiwari was referring to Mr Kejriwal’s attempt to disrupt Republic Day function in 2014 by sitting on indefinite protest near Vijay Chowk.

“How can a government of any party stop Republic Day parade, which is of national importance? Before giving full statehood to Delhi, all such possibilities must be discussed. Therefore demand of full statehood must be reviewed,” said Delhi BJP president and Lok Sabha member from North East Delhi.  

Mr Tiwari alleged that when the city is facing severe water and power crisis, Mr Kejriwal instead of finding a solution is diverting attention by raising issue of full statehood.  

“Why Mr Kejriwal and his government talking about water and power crisis? If they are really interested in serving people of Delhi, the AAP government has came out its plan to solve the water and power crisis. For all its failure, Mr Kejriwal and his team blame others,” said Mr Tiwari.

Mr Tiwari also called the AAP as Dhayan Bhatkao Party’ (Attention Diverting Party). “For all these attempts of diverting attention from key issues, Mr Kejriwal’s party should be renamed as ‘Dhayan Bhatkao Party’ in place of AAP,” he said.