Protest over BJP MLA’s removal but Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh say no row with AAP

Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay was quick to decry the AAP’s actions. “The way AAP legislators demanded powers to impeach the Lt- Governor and marshaled out BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma from the house proves that this is an autocratic government with no concern for democratic values,” he said.

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According to Upadhyay, AAP was demanding powers to impeach the L-G “just because some leaders do not like” his decisions. “Tomorrow they may demand rights to impeach High Court judges if they pass an adverse order against them,” he said.

BJP President Amit Shah, meanwhile, downplayed the differences between the Centre and the state on the crisis over the jurisdiction issues in Delhi. “The so-called row with the Delhi government is not a row. It is a matter of interpretation of the Constitution. The state government is doing it in one way and the Centre in another. The matter will go to court and it will be settled there,” Shah told reporters at an event to celebrate one year of the BJP-led government.

Shah denied that there was any mistreatment of Delhi government by the Centre. “It is not a question of mistreatment. It is a question of different interpretations,” he said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking in Kolkata, said there would be no interference by the Centre in the functioning of the Delhi. “Everybody should work within the constitutional provisions. And I would like to add that Delhi government has been elected by the people and the central government will not create any hurdles in its functioning. We will also give them full cooperation,” Singh said.

He also said that the Narendra Modi government believes in constructive and cooperative federalism. “We feel and believe that there is a need for constructive and cooperative federalism. And that is the reason why we have increased the revenue sharing between the states and the Centre from 32 per cent to 42 per cent,” Singh said.