National consensus needed to give Delhi statehood, says Arun Jaitley

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He was asked about BJP’s views on granting full statehood to Delhi, as promised by the party in the past. Jaitley, however, noted that the confusion over rights exercised by the Centre and the elected government would lead to “offices being shut down” and to avoid that, the Home Ministry had issued the classificatory notification on Friday.

“If there is confusion, then offices will be locked. And to ensure offices are not shut, it is the Centre’s responsibility to clarify and Home Ministry has fulfilled that responsibility by issuing a classificatory notification to make it clear what rights rest with the Centre and what with the elected government,” he said.

On the ongoing controversy between Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over appointment of officers, he said people of Delhi were waiting for governance by the elected government even after 100 days of being in power.

“The elected government should strive and the public is waiting for 100 days that within the domain of those rights, it initiates steps to provide governance in Delhi,” he said.

The Minister said Delhi is a Union Territory, and Union Territories are under the Centre. But Delhi and Puducherry, which have elected governments have separate arrangements — some constitutional rights have been given to them. The rights not given to their elected governments rest with the Centre, he said.

(With PTI inputs)