Kejriwal reiterates demand for Delhi’s statehood

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) In his first public comments after his 10-day meditation break, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday reiterated his demand for full statehood for Delhi.

Addressing a meeting to mark the unveiling of a statue of Delhi's first Chief Minister, Chaudhry Brahm Prakash, Kejriwal also made an oblique criticism of a Delhi High Court ruling that has given Lt Governor Najeeb Jung primacy in the affairs of the administration in the capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader quoted the late Brahm Prakash's son as saying that his father too fought doggedly to secure statehood for Delhi.

"We are also fighting for statehood," Kejriwal said. "We are also fighting for the rights of the people."

The Chief Minister said the decision to make the Lt Governor the supremo in Delhi was an insult to the people of Delhi and the choice they made in the February 2015 assembly elections.

"Why should it be that the value of a vote in Haryana is more than in Delhi? This is an insult to the people of Delhi.

"We too are a part of this country. But our vote has no value," he said.