New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for his campaign on grant of full statehood status to Delhi, the Congress on Sunday claimed that these were Aam Aadmi Party's diversionary tactics to divert attention of the people from the government's failures to fulfill all the promises it had made before the Assembly elections in the national capital. All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Delhi P. C. Chacko said, though his party was in favour of full statehood, but he said this could be achieved only after there was a consensus among all political parties on the contentious issue.
"The AAP government has been in blame game mode for the past three-and-a-half years. Now they want to cover up their failures and that's why they are launching this mis-information campaign on full statehood issue."
Mr Chacko said that the first tender for installation of CCTV cameras worth Rs 134 crore was first cancelled by the AAP government. "Now they are awarding a tender worth Rs 540 crore for installation of these cameras to a Chinese government run company, which will pose a direct threat to our security."
Mr Chacko said one lakh students had migrated from government to private schools in the past one year. "Who should be blamed for this mess in our education system ?" "Also, 400 mohalla clinics have failed due to AAP government," he added.
The Congress leader said that a large number of houses constructed for weaker sections of the society have not been allotted to poor people so far.
"The AAP government has not constructed even a single unit under the PM Awas Yojna."
Former city minister A K Walia said that every thing has come to a standstill under Mr Kejriwal's regime.
"We ruled Delhi for 15 years and we did a lot of development under similar circumstances. But Mr Kejriwal has been blaming for his failure either the Lieutenant Governor or the BJP-led Centre."
Former city minister Narender Nath said there was no way that Delhi can be accorded full statehood. He said that a similar demand was made in 1983 when he was a metropolitan councillor.
"It was on the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission that the Delhi Assembly was former in 1983."
Mr Nath said that the Centre provides an assistance of Rs 20,000 crore every year to Delhi.
"If we get full statehood, who is going to pay this money. Such a demand is bound to raise additional financial burden on our tax-payers."
