New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has outlined a number of promises for Delhi in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, all of it, however, contingent on one tall promise — statehood for the national capital.
The mainstay of AAP’s 2019 manifesto continues to be statehood for Delhi but the party has made a number of other promises that depend on the statehood demand being fulfilled.
Sample this: AAP has promised an overhaul of the law and order situation in Delhi, with a 33 per cent reservation for women in the Delhi Police. Policing in the national capital, however, is a central government subject and so out of the Delhi government’s ambit.
AAP has also promised to fill nearly two lakh job vacancies in the Delhi Police, the education and health departments within a year and with 85 per cent reservation for residents of the national capital. There is still no clarity under whom these departments fall, with a case on the issue having been referred to a larger bench of the Supreme Court in February. AAP alleges that the departments are being “illegally held captive by the BJP”.
Among other promises, the party has said it will ensure free schooling facilities for children up to the age of 18 and college admissions for all Delhi students who score over 60 per cent.
Taking a swipe at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which also falls under the Centre, AAP has promised pucca houses to every family in Delhi within the next five years.
“The 2019 election is not about any party or any manifesto,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said at the launch in New Delhi Thursday. “It is a turning point. The 2019 election is about saving India.
“Once Delhi gets statehood, women will be safer, there will be 85 per cent reservation for Delhi residents in government jobs and colleges,” Kejriwal added.
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A tall order
With the AAP manifesto hinging on the statehood demand, experts say it will be a tall order.
“From what we have seen, it is next to impossible to make Delhi a state,” Sanjay Kumar, the director at the Centre for Studies of Developing Societies told ThePrint. “Even the BJP has tried in the past and failed. It is for the government at the Centre, whoever it may be, to concede to statehood for Delhi.”
Kumar, though, said that AAP is well within its right to make such promises.
“Like any other political party, AAP has the right to make these promises. It’s up to the people to decide whether they believe them or not,” said Kumar. “It’s not like Delhi cannot become a state. If AAP may be willing to fight for it, but it won’t be easy.”
Delhi will decide next PM: Kejriwal
Unlike the national manifesto the party launched ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which promised more power to the people of the country, the 2019 manifesto is now about how very little power is being accorded to the government of the national capital.
When asked how only seven parliamentarians, if AAP sweeps the national capital, will able to guarantee statehood, Kejriwal said, “These seven seats will decide who forms the next government. Whoever decides to give Delhi support for statehood will have our support.”
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Kejriwal is now just fooling around the Delhi public. Statehood is a major issue being India capital instead as a CM, he should have done his job properly, which he has not done. Another issue that candidate who has said Gautam Gambhir is no where near me and now scared of her defeat and trying to disqualify Gambhir.