The Hindu : Third Front demands introduction of Statehood Bill

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 28, 2003

Other States

Other States - New Delhi

Third Front demands introduction of Statehood Bill

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JULY 27. A large number of workers of the Third Front today held a demonstration on Parliament Street demanding introduction of the Statehood Bill during the current session of Parliament and resignation of the seven Delhi BJP Lok Sabha MPs for betraying the interests of Delhiites on the issue.

Charging both the BJP and the Congress with taking the people of Delhi for a ride, the Third Front warned it would not allow the territorial division of Delhi as proposed in the 1998 draft Bill on Statehood. Both the parties were playing politics on the issue and would not even talk about it once the Assembly polls are over.

Prominent among those who took part in the demonstration which was led by the Third Front Chairman, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, inlcuded the Janata Dal (S) MLA, Shoaib Iqbal, National Akali Dal president, Paramjit Singh Pamma, Nationalist Congress Party Delhi unit president, Sukhvir Singh Panwar, Samajwadi Janata Party general secretary, H.N. Sharma, Shakti Dal leader, Gopal Jha, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party leader, Raghu Thaur and Rattan Singh, Rashtriya Lok Dal.

The protesters demanded that NDMC area should form part of the proposed Statehood Bill. Addressing the protesters, Mr. Bidhuri said the Delhi police should be placed under the Delhi Government and a special security force should be created to cater to VVIP and VIP security in the Capital. The Bill containing these points has still not been introduced in Parliament and this amounted to playing with the sentiments of Delhiites. In view of this, all the seven BJP Lok Sabha MPs from Delhi should resign from their seats for betrayal of Delhiites, Mr. Bidhuri demanded.

Mr. Bidhuri was of the view that a duly elected Government of Delhi cannot discharge its responsibilities and fulfill the aspirations of the people under the present limited power structure and administrative control. All the policy decisions of the State Government including small matters have to referred to the Central Government for approval which was wrong and often delayed implementation of policy decisions and developmental works. It was high time that this multiplicity of authority was put to an end and the Delhi Government was given full powers.

The Third Front was of the view that the BJP-led Central Government was not at all interested in giving Statehood to Delhi and the issue was being raised with an eye on the Assembly elections. As soon as the elections are over, the issue of Statehood would be buried as both the BJP and its Union Government were against giving more powers to the State Government and loosing control over police and land. Despite having a huge representation in the Union Cabinet, Delhi continues to get discriminatory treatment at the hands of the Union Government which was unfortunate, he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Assembly session without Question Hour

'Quick repair of Qutub camera'

Third Front demands introduction of Statehood Bill

BEML to roll out Metro coaches

More subways in the offing

Defective flyovers open issue of quality assurance