Congress vows to amend 1991 law to end ambiguities

NEW DELHI: Congress on Tuesday promised full statehood to Puducherry but stopped short of making a similar commitment for Delhi if elected to power, evoking a sharp reaction from

AAP

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Reiterating the current power structure in the national capital where the lieutenant governor acts on the advice of the elected government on all issues except land, police and public order, Congress said in the manifesto that it will amend the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991, to remove ambiguities. This was under the ‘Federalism and Centre-State relations’ section of the manifesto.

The party, however, said that it will give full statehood to Puducherry, a small Union territory on the southern coast which is also a half-state with a legislative assembly similar to Delhi.

The Congress dispensation in Puducherry finds itself stuck in a situation similar to Delhi and has been at loggerheads with the lieutenant governor there, accusing him of not allowing the elected government to function. In Delhi, the AAP government has often expressed its frustration of its proposals and schemes being vetoed by the Centre or put on the back-burner as the national capital lacks the status of the full-fledged state. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has also said that the elected government does not even have the power to hire a peon.

While the Congress has promised to amend the law of 1991, a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court had in its July 2018 order laid down a similar provision. The AAP government has been sending the files of new proposals and schemes to the LG after implementing them on the ground. The LG, however, continues to enjoy the undiluted power and control over Delhi Police, matters related to public order and land.

Though former chief minister Sheila Dikshit has often said that she had enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Centre during her three terms, the manifesto gives enough indication that the Congress government in Delhi too had confrontations with the LG and clarity on the power structure was important for smooth Centre-state relations.

The issue of giving Delhi the status of a full-fledged state has made it to Congress manifestos in the past, but despite appointing committees to examine the proposal, it could not move ahead on it. While Dikshit did not comment on the issue on Tuesday, she had earlier told TOI that during the Congress rule of 15 years in Delhi, she had tried for full statehood but could not achieve it. In an interaction last week, Dikshit had clearly said that the issue of full statehood was irrelevant in the coming General Election and the party won’t include it in the manifesto.

The Congress has also promised to prevail upon the states to implement the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments, which talk about devolution of funds and functions upon municipalities directly from the Centre. This will strengthen the municipalities vis-à-vis the state governments and will also give them the power to do planning, which is currently enjoyed in Delhi by Delhi Development Authority.