In 5 yrs will get back powers Centre took from Delhi: Kejriwal

In the midst of his bitter tussle with the Lt Governor, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today resolved to take back Delhi government's powers from the Centre within the current term and said the city can be granted full-statehood within 10 days, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants.

In an address at an "open cabinet" to mark 100 days of AAP government, Kejriwal said the Centre's notification giving absolute powers to the Lt Governor reflected its "dictatorial attitude" and accused the BJP-led government of taking revenge against people of the city for handing the party a crushing defeat in the assembly polls.

"The fight to liberate us is on alongside work. This fight will continue and I hope that in the next five years, we will get back the powers that the Centre has taken from Delhi," he said.
Presenting a report card of his government, he said no other government in the country has ever achieved so much in the first 100 days. All the ministers also presented their achievements and interacted with the people.

"We don't want to fight with the Centre. We want to work together. The first thing we did after winning was to meet Prime Minister Modi. We told him you have full majority in the Parliament and we have the same in the Assembly. This is a golden opportunity bestowed by God upon us. If PM and we converge then I think Delhi would get full statehood in 10 days," Kejriwal said.

Referring to the notification issued by the Home Ministry, he said, "Issuing such notification amounts to dictatorship and the public will avenge such decisions."

"We never thought they would get down to take revenge against the people of Delhi in this fashion. I think we should accept people's verdict and work     together," he said.

Among the officials who were present in the event included Shakuntala Gamlin, the IAS officer whose appointment as acting Chief Secretary by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had triggered a full-blown war between him and Kejriwal.
Chief Secretary K K Sharma was also present at the event.

The AAP government has convened a two-day emergency session of the Delhi Assembly to discuss the Centre's notification.

When asked why he had a bitter relationship with the media despite the perception that it had helped AAP to rise, Kejriwal said, "Thank you media."

On women's security, he said marshalls would be deployed onboard DTC buses where process of installation of CCTVs has already been initiated.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the biggest achievement of the AAP government is checking corruption in various departments and agencies and ending the "transfer posting industry".

In the event, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said, "Media is analysing 100 days of AAP government versus one year of Modi government which is merely a coincidence."

He also announced the decision to provide a subsidy of Rs 15,000 to e-rickshaw owners upon new registration and said DTC would buy 1880 new buses in the coming months.

Addressing the event, Health Minister Satyendra Jain announced that the government would increase the bed capacity of government hospitals from existing 10,000 to 20,000 in next two-and-half years.

"At present, Delhi government has hospitals having a capacity of 10,000 beds, but government in next two and a half years, we will increase from 10,000 beds to 20,000 beds which could never be done in past 65 years. Government has prepared a plan of this project," Jain said.

The ministers listed the AAP government's achievements including 50 per cent subsidy on monthly power consumption of up to 400 units and 20,000 litres of free water per month to all households.