Date:14/09/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/09/14/stories/2002091404700100.htm

Front Page

Dikshit meets Advani on statehood issue

By Sujay Mehdudia

The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, with the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, prior to their meeting at the North Block on Friday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI SEPT. 13. The Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and her Cabinet colleagues today got no firm assurance from the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, on grant of statehood to Delhi. Mr. Advani said that he would respond to the demand of the Delhi Assembly for withdrawal of the two recent controversial circulars issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in a day or two. It is learnt that Mr. Advani advised Ms. Dikshit to first have discussions with all the parties on the issue of statehood and seek their views before evolving a final concept.

He told the Chief Minister and her colleagues that his Government also needed to consult NDA allies over the issue before any such move for Delhi was undertaken. It was also pointed out by the Deputy Prime Minister that the 1998 draft Bill, which had talked about giving statehood to Delhi after its reorganisation, could form the basis of such a consensus. Only after this would the Central Government react to the demand.

Mr. Advani did not give a categorical assurance if the necessary Constitutional amendment needed to ensure statehood for Delhi would be carried out during the winter session of Parliament and did not commit himself on withdrawing the two controversial circulars, but only promised to have the matter examined.

It is believed that with the Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapoor, issuing a clarification on the issue early this week, at the instance of Mr. Advani and local BJP leaders, there is little chance of the circulars being withdrawn or amended.

It is believed that Mr. Advani referred to the opinion of the Law Department and the circular written by the former Principal Secretary (Finance and Power), Ramesh Chandra, which is believed to have triggered off the whole crisis.

Emerging from the 20-minute meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said she had conveyed to Mr. Advani the strong resentment of the Delhi Assembly on the two recent circulars issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and urged him to withdraw them keeping in mind the sentiments of the elected representatives. Also present were A.K. Walia, Haroon Yusuf, Deep Chand Bandhu, Raj Kumar Chauhan and the Parliamentary Secretary, Ramakant Goswami.

The Transport Minister, Ajay Maken, could not make it as he was indisposed and the Finance Minister, Mahinder Singh Saathi, has gone abroad.