New Delhi, Aug 11: Politicking over Delhi statehood issue ahead of the assembly polls acquired a new pitch today after Centre's clearance to a bill in this regard, with BJP quickly claiming credit for it and putting the onus for its passage in Parliament on Congress even as Congress government expressed reservations over certain aspects of the proposal. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the bill, about which she came to know through the reported statement of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, had several "grey areas", was "ambiguous" and "not understandable".
The concept of full statehood would be "totally negated" if police and public order remain under the Centre, she told , adding "so is the case with the provisions under which the Centre's directions, in case of differences with the Delhi government, were binding on the state government."
She also complained that "we were neither informed nor consulted about the bill".
Delhi BJP president Madan Lal Khurana on the other hand termed it a "historic decision" and asked Dikshit to "prevail" upon Congress president Sonia Gandhi to "extend full support" to the bill in Parliament as it required constitutional amendment.
"If Congress fails to support the bill in Parliament, it would tantamount to betrayal with the people of Delhi on part of Congress," he said.

Bureau Report