Kejriwal questions Cong, BJP's 'unconditional', 'constructive' support

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal has written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her BJP counterpart Rajnath Singh asking both the parties to clear their stand on promises AAP has made in its election manifesto.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to discuss the formation of a government in Delhi on Saturday morning.

Giving a new twist to government formation in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday set some new conditions for Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party before it can decide on forming a government, a move seen as attempts to fob off criticism that it was running away from taking responsibility.

Read: AAP's letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP president Rajnath Singh

Kejriwal informed Jung that his party did not have the numbers to form a government and asked for 10 days time for his party to take a decision. Kejriwal also handed over copies of letters he had written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh asking them for their take on the AAP’s manifesto and the Jan Lokpal Bill.

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Kejriwal sought the views of the Congress and BJP views on a list of 18 issues that included ending VIP culture in the capital, audit of electricity companies and removal of MLA local funds scheme.

The AAP, Kejriwal said, wanted to know where the Congress and BJP stood on issues concerning Delhi since both parties had offered to support his government.

Kejriwal expressed surprise that the Congress had written to the Lt Governor offering unconditional support to AAP to form a government.

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, whom AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal met, has said he will send a report to the President, an indication that he would tell the Centre that government formation will not be possible now.

In a surprise move, Congress had on Friday night extended unconditional support of its eight MLAs to AAP for forming the next government. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Kejriwal said, he had not sought any time from the Lt Governor for government formation. He claimed the LG told him he can come back when he has the majority. 

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A press release issued by the LG said, "Leader of AAP Legislative Party Arvind Kejriwal met Lt Governor. Referring to the letter of support received from Congress, Kejriwal said he would be in a position to form a government only after ascertaining the views of people of Delhi. The honourable LG will be submitting a factual report to the honourable President of India".

While the single largest party BJP with 31 MLAs had declined to from the government, the second big party AAP with 28 seats has been saying that it would not take from or give support to Congress and BJP in government formation.

Kejriwal asked why the Congress and BJP were ready to extend their support to AAP, when his party had not asked for it.

"Nobody gives unconditional support to anyone without any reason. There must be some reason that both parties are in a hurry to extend their support to us for free, what are their intentions," he told reporters.

Attacking the BJP, he said their intentions were evident the moment they refused to form the government and stated they were not interested in manipulative politics and horse trading when they had allegedly done so in other states.

The AAP leader said his party's stand was clear from day one that it would not take or give support to the Congress or the BJP.

AAP was formed by the common people due to alleged corrupt and criminal politics of both the parties, and it was now not possible to join hands with these parties, he said.

"But their moves have surprised us. We had even prepared a letter for the LG (expressing our inability to form the government). To understand their stand, I had written letters to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP Chief Rajnath Singh seeking their parties' stand on 18 issues," Kejriwal said.

"I have asked them to provide categorical answers on the issues," he said.

During the last 15 years of Congress regime, problems of people have increased manifold. Similarly, BJP-ruled municipal corporation was allegedly involved in loot and mis-governance and common people were fed up with the corruption, he charged.

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AAP also sought their views on the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill in Delhi and asked would they still support his government if their leaders were found involved in corruption.

Kejriwal asked whether Congress and BJP would support AAP on giving more decision power to mohalla sabhas, giving full statehood to Delhi and audit of accounts of electricity companies.

He also asked whether they would be supporting AAP on issue of electricity meters, putting an end to tanker mafia, which he said is being run allegedly in connivance with few leaders of both the parties.

He asked whether the parties would support them on the issue of repealing of a law which allows increase in water tariff every year.

Would these parties support his government on regularisation of unauthorised colonies, rehabilitation of slums, ending of contractual appointments of nurses, doctors, sweepers, and teachers?

Would the Congress and the BJP support AAP government in simplification of VAT and promote trade and business, provide basic amenities in industrial area. Would they oppose the FDI in retail in Delhi? Would they support AAP's view of giving subsidy to farmers and not acquiring land without permission of gramsabha, Kejriwal wrote.

He also asked if these parties would support AAP on issue of providing security to women, improving quality of education in 1,800 schools run by municipal corporation and 1,200 by government, on judicial reforms and help from BJP-run MCDs on various issues.

"After getting response from BJP and Congress on these issues, we will hold public meetings and ask the people whether we should form government or not," he said.