Kejriwal meets Modi, discusses Delhi statehood issue

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raised the issue of granting full statehood to the capital.

Kejriwal also invited him to his oath-taking ceremony on Saturday, which Modi will not be able to attend due to prior engagements.

 “Unfortunately the PM will not be able to attend Arvindji’s oath taking ceremony,” AAP leader Manish Sisodia told reporters.

Sisodia accompanied the CM designate to 7 Race Course Road, and the meeting lasted for 15 minutes.

“Arvind told the PM that there is a full majority government in the Centre and Delhi. This is a golden opportunity,” Sisodia said, pointing out that the issues of statehood prominently featured in their meeting with the PM.

Full statehood to Delhi was one of the promises made by the AAP in the run-up to the Assembly polls. Currently, law and order and land issues in the capital are controlled by the Centre through the Lieutenant Governor and an elected Delhi government has no say in such matters.

The two AAP leaders had earlier met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu asking for their help in getting full state rights for Delhi.

Sisodia said Modi promised to think over the issue and assured the AAP leaders all possible central help to the city government.

After the AAP’s landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, Modi had congratulated the AAP chief and invited him for a meeting over tea.