‘We shall conduct inquiries, under new Jan Lokpal Act, into the corruption and scams during 15 years’ rule of the Congress in Delhi and seven years’ rule of the BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The support of your party must not waver if evidence of corruption are found against your leaders. They will not be dealt with leniency,’ said Arvind Kejriwal, leader of AAP, in his letters to BJP’s national president Rajnath Singh and his Congress counterpart Sonia Gandhi on Saturday.
‘We shall pass the Jan Lokpal Bill for Delhi for which Anna Hazare had fasted in Ram Lila Ground,’ he added. Kejriwal reiterated his demand to hold a special session of Delhi assembly in the same Ram Lila Ground to pass the bill. ‘I have consulted constitutional experts. Please don’t worry. It’s within the ambit of the constitution,’ asserted Kejriwal.
Kejriwal’s demand to abolish development funds of MLAs and councillors needs approval of parliament as no amendment can be made in the rules of city government and Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act without such approval. ‘We want to abolish development funds for MLAs and councillors and give the money directly to colony committees (Mohalla Sabha),’ demanded Kejriwal.
The provision of giving development funds to MLAs and councillors have been made by Parliament and can’t be deleted only with an amendment in the constitution. Also, the constitution of colony committees is not clear. Their power, jurisdiction and responsibilities are not mentioned clearly in AAP’s manifesto. As far as facilities and security for ministers and MLAs are concerned, they could be rejected voluntarily.
Except these contentious issues listed in serials numbers 1, 2 and 3, the AAP manifesto is similar to the BJP’s. But AAP’s demands are more quantitative and time bound. The Congress manifesto is silent on most of these points.
AAP has promised that cases related to harassment of women must be decided within six months and rest of the cases must be decided within six months to one year while BJP has just promised to make arrangements for swift delivery of justice especially for women and senior citizens by bringing more fast track courts in the city. The creation of fast track court is a judicial process and involves several government agencies, central government and the High Court.
BJP has promised CAG audit of power distributing companies and bringing down power tariff by 30 per cent. AAP has said it would bring down tariff by half. Both have promised to replace faulty electricity meters and inquiry by an independent agency. Both have promised to end corruption in Delhi Jal Board, bring down water charges, end mafia raj in water tankers, and ensure water supply to all while AAP has added one more promise to provide 700 litres of drinking water free to every family. Congress has promised to increase the subsidy to 40 kilo litres per family.
Both BJP and AAP have promised to regularise unauthorised colonies in Delhi while AAP has given a time frame of one year. But layout plans and approvals take time. Since notification last year, lay out plans of only 15 out of around 892 colonies have been prepared so far by three eminent institutes in Delhi. On development of villages, FDI in retail sector, business and industry, making VAT entrepreneur friendly, augmentation of health services, women’s security, improvement in judiciary, and abolition of contract system in government services both AAP and BJP have same ideas. AAP has promised to open 500 primary level schools while BJP has promised colleges, and professional institutions for skill development. Both AAP and BJP have favoured full statehood for Delhi by bringing Delhi Police and DDA under the control of Delhi government. Both have promises special security force for women.
The 18th point of the letter differs for BJP and Congress chiefs. Kejriwal has demanded Singh to ensure support of MCDs to implement his agenda and from Gandhi to ensure support of Central government.
‘We shall pass the Jan Lokpal Bill for Delhi for which Anna Hazare had fasted in Ram Lila Ground,’ he added. Kejriwal reiterated his demand to hold a special session of Delhi assembly in the same Ram Lila Ground to pass the bill. ‘I have consulted constitutional experts. Please don’t worry. It’s within the ambit of the constitution,’ asserted Kejriwal.
Kejriwal’s demand to abolish development funds of MLAs and councillors needs approval of parliament as no amendment can be made in the rules of city government and Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act without such approval. ‘We want to abolish development funds for MLAs and councillors and give the money directly to colony committees (Mohalla Sabha),’ demanded Kejriwal.
The provision of giving development funds to MLAs and councillors have been made by Parliament and can’t be deleted only with an amendment in the constitution. Also, the constitution of colony committees is not clear. Their power, jurisdiction and responsibilities are not mentioned clearly in AAP’s manifesto. As far as facilities and security for ministers and MLAs are concerned, they could be rejected voluntarily.
Except these contentious issues listed in serials numbers 1, 2 and 3, the AAP manifesto is similar to the BJP’s. But AAP’s demands are more quantitative and time bound. The Congress manifesto is silent on most of these points.
AAP has promised that cases related to harassment of women must be decided within six months and rest of the cases must be decided within six months to one year while BJP has just promised to make arrangements for swift delivery of justice especially for women and senior citizens by bringing more fast track courts in the city. The creation of fast track court is a judicial process and involves several government agencies, central government and the High Court.
BJP has promised CAG audit of power distributing companies and bringing down power tariff by 30 per cent. AAP has said it would bring down tariff by half. Both have promised to replace faulty electricity meters and inquiry by an independent agency. Both have promised to end corruption in Delhi Jal Board, bring down water charges, end mafia raj in water tankers, and ensure water supply to all while AAP has added one more promise to provide 700 litres of drinking water free to every family. Congress has promised to increase the subsidy to 40 kilo litres per family.
Both BJP and AAP have promised to regularise unauthorised colonies in Delhi while AAP has given a time frame of one year. But layout plans and approvals take time. Since notification last year, lay out plans of only 15 out of around 892 colonies have been prepared so far by three eminent institutes in Delhi. On development of villages, FDI in retail sector, business and industry, making VAT entrepreneur friendly, augmentation of health services, women’s security, improvement in judiciary, and abolition of contract system in government services both AAP and BJP have same ideas. AAP has promised to open 500 primary level schools while BJP has promised colleges, and professional institutions for skill development. Both AAP and BJP have favoured full statehood for Delhi by bringing Delhi Police and DDA under the control of Delhi government. Both have promises special security force for women.
The 18th point of the letter differs for BJP and Congress chiefs. Kejriwal has demanded Singh to ensure support of MCDs to implement his agenda and from Gandhi to ensure support of Central government.