Statehood for Delhi: Congress calls the demand “a political gimmick”

New Delhi: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) leader Sharmistha Mukherjee on Wednesday dubbed the Aam Aadmi Party's demand for a referendum on full statehood for Delhi "unconstitutional" and a "political gimmick".

"A referendum on statehood to Delhi, as proposed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is not only unconstitutional but also anti-national. It is nothing but a political gimmick of the Aam Aadmi Party," she said.

The Delhi Congress leader said AAP supremo Kejriwal raises various issues on purpose to cause conflict with the central government.

"Kejriwal purposely raises issues that cause conflict with the Centre and distract from his failures," she added.

Mukherjee said the Congress was not against the "statehood for Delhi" per se, but it should be within the ambit of the Indian Constitution.

"No doubt statehood will give more teeth to Delhi, but it will also mean more expenses. Currently, Delhi Police, its university and Metro are taken care of by the central government. We are not against statehood but it should be feasible and within the ambit of constitution," she said.

(IANS)