Fed up of Arvind Kejriwal’s drama and excuses to stall work, former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit came out heavily against the current Delhi CM. Sheila Dikshit said that no one can help Arvind Kejriwal if he did not understand the constitutional provisions with respect to Delhi Union Territory. She also criticized him for his traditional publicity stunt- Dharna politics. Sheila Dikshit told the PTI, “If you do not understand the Constitution, what can anyone do? That is the bottom line. Delhi cannot become Kerala or Goa or Puducherry, which have different powers as per the Constitution.” She further added, “If a chief minister does not understand the basics about his state, then I have nothing to say. Everybody has the right to ask for more power, but it has to be by changing the Constitution through Parliament. He can have the powers he is seeking only through Parliament.”
She also questioned the intention behind the high-profile dharna. According to her, “What is his (Kejriwal’s) intention behind it? I feel ashamed to see a chief minister releasing photos on the internet sitting on a protest at the L-G’s office.” Sheila Dixit averred that AAP is politicizing the issue. She also told that her government also demanded the full statehood for the Delhi but never politicized the issue. She said, “The Congress also demanded full statehood for Delhi, but it never politicised the issue. People understand the politics behind dharnas, they are not fools.”
AAP, instead of taking Sheila Dikshit’s suggestion seriously and in good spirit, did exactly what they are best at doing- making allegations. AAP alleged that former CM is siding with the BJP. Sheila Dikshit responded to these allegations by saying that whatever AAP is saying is totally irrelevant. “We have our own identity”, she added. Arvind Kejriwal, along with some of his ministers, is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike for no clear reason at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s house since the last Monday.
Former CM Sheila Dikshit also cited her example when BJP was ruling at the Centre and the Delhi was ruled by the Congress party, Sheila Dixit as its Chief Minister. She said there was no tug of war between the centre and the state. Her government functioned smoothly without any conflict and tussle. Although political disagreements were there at that time as well, they were solved out in a civilized manner without any dirty politics unlike what is happening at present. Sheila Dikhit also cited the smooth co-operation between her and government at the Centre irrespective of political affiliations.
Her statement is politically very significant because it puts an end to the AAP’s dream to enter into an alliance with the Congress ahead of 2019 General elections. AAP tried its level best to persuade the Congress party to make an alliance with AAP but the Congress rejected AAP’s desperate request for a pre-poll alliance. Moreover, the so-called united opposition parties supporting Arvind Kejriwal on this issue has further alienated the Congress party from the likes of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, KCR and other anti-BJP/ anti-Modi leaders/parties.
