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| Source: Yespunjab.com |
White Hat- Facts and Figures
Delhi is neither falls under the category of a state, nor a union territory. However population of the city is more than 12 million, which is greater than many other states in the country. It is offcially known as National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Conferring the Balakrishan Committee references, the Delhi Metropolitan Council was substituted by the Delhi Legislative Assembly through the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991, followed by the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi Act, 1991.
The governing authority of the Indian national capital territory of Delhi is Government of Delhi and it has 11 districts. It consistss of an executive, led by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, a judiciary and a legislative.
Delhi state legislative assembly consists of 70 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and it is unicameral. Chief Minister is the chief executive of the NCT. LG is Delhi's de jure chief of state, but de facto executive power rests with Chief Minister according to constitution of India.
Following elections to the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the lieutenant governor generally calls the party with a majority of seats to form the government. LG by the advice of President of India appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are jointly accountable to the assembly.
Except Public Order, Police and Land, the Delhi government has power to make laws on all the matters of the state list. According to the Police Act 1978, which is specially enacted for the National Capital Territory of Delhi, police commissioner works directly under the Lieutenant Governor. It is one of the largest metropolitan police forces of the world.
The demand of statehood for Delhi arose to the response to the short coming of Delhi administration act as no legislative powers were resided to metropolitan council. Although it enjoys the special status among all other union territories the demand of fully fledged statehood for Delhi is always on debate from past and is again the matter of top priority the current AAP government.
Yellow Hat- Optimism/Support
Analyzing the demand for full statehood by the AAP’s government is a palpable need which has been the disguised agenda of all the parties that have ruled Delhi. Ruling AAP is trying to rule Delhi through Lt. Governor, who acts as centre’s representative, holding significant powers as Delhi is a Union Territory and not a state.
States other than Delhi have full authority and control in all the matters of administration and government; whereas Delhi has no control on police, land and public law and order. Apart from these vital functions, several other areas like civil arms of government that are under center can be administered by the state once the full statehood status is applied.
The full statehood demand by AAP is a demand to enjoy their jurisdictional rights to attain full control over Delhi as around 60 matters relating to municipal governance will be functioned by the state government that today cannot be administered without the Union government.
Municipal corporations always fight each other with over jurisdiction while avoiding their responsibility when there is a problem. And when monsoon arrives, all start blaming each other as there is no clear segregation of the authority between state and centre.
Delhi’s state government should be the one initiating all the decisions for Municipal Corporation. There are several implications attached with the conversion of Delhi into ‘Full statehood’, primarily related with finance and the government’s quality.
Delhi has a highest rate of subsidy from centre over other states. Most of the Infrastructural development in Delhi is financed by centre to a large extent. Delhi government can only raise its annual budget every year via its sources with the centre funding most prominent of all. This leads to biased approach when a different party comes in power ar the centre.
Currently Delhi state assembly can pass an amendment but requires an approval of Lt. Governor, The Ministry of urban development and the Ministry of home affairs to turn that amendment into a law. Therefore all the matters in a state should be controlled by state and not centre. The argument regarding full statehood to Delhi should cross the boundary of political parties and must be seen in national interest. The city expects a good quality of governance that is proportionate with India’s emerging status of modern and developed country.
Black Hat- Criticism
Delhi is more or less a city state and the National Capital of India. If Delhi is to receive full statehood it implies that the Central government will fall under state government’s administrative jurisdiction. So, the Central government will never allow a state government to control its offices, administration establishments and services.
So the first step in Delhi’s full statehood is bifurcation. It will not only be a geographical bifurcation but the services provided to the people of Delhi, development authority, water, police and everything will have to split up between the new full state and the central autonomous national capital.
After getting a full statehood, Delhi will not be eligible for government subsidies. Delhi gets major financial inputs from the center and after the full statehood it will have to rely on its own resources for growth. Delhi will have to pay for its Law and order costs, for Police, which Central government currently pays for. Its Budget will go high so the land rents, property taxes, and vehicle taxes, will increase; mounting pressure on Delhi’s “Aam Admi”.
Delhi as a full state will have to manage its own public transport system. Where will the money come from? It’s simple math, Delhiites will have to pay for it. Delhi’s life line, Metro, will either have to charge more or get subsidized. Public places, monuments stadiums are taken care by the central government at present, It will add to Delhi’s misery if it will have to bear their complete burden.
As a full state, if Delhi will have to buy power and water from other states, it cannot be subsidized. It will have to setup its own energy resources which will increase the production cost or it may have to buy power from other states, at market prices. A full statehood to Delhi means ruling party will have to charge more on power and other necessary facilities.
The Aam Admi Party’s demand of Delhi’s full statehood currently seems more of a political nature than practical. It must focus more establishing themselves as caretakers of Delhi and work in coordination with Central Government.
Green Hat- Creative Solutions
The question of statehood to Delhi has been raised time and again as both the major parties BJP and Congress have clamoured their support for giving Delhi assembly full control of the state administration. Henceforth, the demand by AAP is neither original nor unfamiliar.
The political gimmick going on since 1993 has only seen parties making promises of working towards it only to saunter away from the issue after coming to power. Thus, putting an end to exploitation of voters through spurious promises shall be a precedent.
The second most critical thing to do is to make the power distribution between Lt. Governor and the elected party clear. This shall be done in a way that a common person who is a resident of the state can acquire knowledge about the same and then judge any situation of disagreement between the ruling party and Lt Governor using his or her own wisdom.
Another solution which may seem a little incredulous is to transfer the onus of this decision to the actual people who will primarily be affected by it. A poll might help to know the stand of Delhi citizens and help the centre and the state government to chalk out a solution accordingly.
The controversy regarding control over police has preceded every other in Delhi lately. This situation can be dealt by simply implementing Supreme Court’s directive of granting functional autonomy to the police. In 2006, Honourable court had laid down seven directives for police reforms which included formation of a buffer body between police and government to ensure enhanced accountability of the force.
Now, perhaps the most important of all is to focus on other issues which demand urgent attention from the authorities and the government. Instead of exhausting all the energy on battling over statehood matter, the ruling parties should focus on improving the basic facilities in the national capital. The conventional issues of water and electricity scarcity, damaged roads and growing pollution level among a whole bunch are the issues which need to be solved first with peaceful coordination and understanding between the state government and the Lt Governor.
Blue Hat- Expert Interview
Akhilesh Tripathi, Aam Aadmi Party (MLA- Model Town)
Q) BJP also had the same agenda in their manifesto then why are you targeting them on the issue of full statehood?
A) The idea has remained in manifestos only, when it comes to BJP. The statehood should be provided so that the current honest government can handle the situation and direct Delhi on the way to progress.
Q) Full statehood would mean that Delhi will have to raise revenue on its own. Isn't that a grave challenge?
A) It indeed is, we can go ahead and invite investors and increase the revenue, plus the investment in certain areas but the case is very complex when it comes to Delhi. Reformations are necessary with time.
Q) It is very clear that police does not fall under the control of Delhi government according to existing rules. Perhaps that is why you are constantly trying to taint its image to attack the centre indirectly.
A) It is understood that Police does not come under the Delhi government but they should be answerable to the people and there should be a body to which the police report for proper implementation of law and order.
Q) Why can't your party coordinate with the centre or Lt Governor and work like other parties did in the past?
A) There have been incidents in recent time where issues were made out of nowhere, be it the appointment of officers or transfers. If Delhi becomes a state then only we can expect a lot of growth and development without any interference in the functioning of the government.
Red Hat- Public Opinion
Nithin Kothari, central government employee in Kolkata
Q) Why should Delhi be given full statehood?
A) Delhi should be granted statehood for the sake of its people. We are living in a suffocating condition in a cold tussle between the Centre and the Delhi Government. Let’s stop this power game, and accept the demand of the people.
Q) Do you think that it will affect law and order situation in anyway?
A) I hope that it will get better after Delhi gets a full statehood.
Ankita Chatterjee, Corporate Lawyer stays at Malkhaganj in Delhi
Q) Why should Delhi be given full statehood?
A) I don’t think it is a legitimate demand of the people as Delhi is the capital of India.
Q) Do you think that it will affect law and order situation in anyway?
A) The time will tell the truth. But on the basis of the performance of other states, we can be assume that it will further deteriorate.
Q) Do you think that it is just a political stunt played by the parties to win votes?
A) People love power and if Delhi is granted the full statehood status then Arvind Kejriwal will become a national hero and his political future will be secured.
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Introduction
Namit Hans, Former Alumnus of IIMC, Sub editor at catchnews.com, @HansNamit
Ayaz Farooqui, Alumnus of IIMC, Works at ABP News (Editorial), @ayazfarooqui
Prateek Kumar, Alumnus of IIMC, Worked at Steria India ltd., Interned at Newsgram.com, Doordarshan, Freelance Writer, @kprateek35
Arnab Mitra, Alumnus of IIMC, Works at Newsgram.com, @sabkathani
Sanjay Kumar Bissoyi, Alumnus of IIMC, Columnist at Uday India, Orissa Post, @skbissoyee
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