The Hindu : Sheila against territorial division of Capital

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 12, 2002

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Sheila against territorial division of Capital

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI DEC. 12. Talks for grant of Statehood to Delhi could well stand stalled now with the Sheila Dikshit Government having expressed strong opposition to any "territorial division'' of the Capital's boundaries to carve out a separate State. The proposal to divide the Capital has been provided for in the 1998 draft Bill prepared by the Union Government and is believed to have the support of the BJP.

It is learnt that Ms. Dikshit, who returned from Gujarat on Tuesday, has made her views orally known to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and would be sending a detailed note in this regard within the next 20 days. Both Ms. Dikshit and Mr. Advani travelled on the same flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi on Tuesday where this topic reportedly came up for discussion. The Congress Government has made it absolutely clear that there was no question of dividing the Capital into a Union Territory and a State and the Congress would not be a party to any such move.

Sources in the Delhi Government informed that Ms. Dikshit reportedly told Mr. Advani that she was open to the 1998 draft Bill for discussion but there was no question of division of Delhi into two parts. Interestingly, the proposal to grant Statehood to Delhi had to be shelved in 1998 after some BJP leaders expressed their strong opposition to certain territorial divisions proposed in the legislation. This had led to the stalling of the Bill and while Delhi did not get Statehood, the other three States of Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh were created. The 1998 draft Bill came into focus once again when Mr. Advani asked both the BJP and Congress to evolve a consensus over the Bill and get back to the Central Government.

In fact, while the decision to actively consider the 1998 draft Bill provisions has been conveyed orally to the Chief Minister by Mr. Advani and possibly the Delhi BJP chief, Madan Lal Khurana, the Chief Minister is still awaiting a reply to the letter on the issue sent nearly a month ago along with the "consensus document'' for the consideration of the Union Home Ministry. The Home Ministry has maintained a stoic silence over the demand by both the BJP and the Congress to make an amendment to Article 370 of the Constitution and incorporate clause "J'' for providing special to Delhi with regard to security and financial aspects.

For her part, Ms. Dikshit is of the firm opinion that division of Delhi on territorial considerations should not be the priority but giving it more powers to make certain institutions accountable should be the first concern. "The Congress does not support territorial division of Delhi which has a unique character and is labelled as mini-India. The focus should be on empowering the duly elected Government and bringing land, DDA, Master Plan making, MCD and other related institutions under the control of Delhi Government. We are not saying that the 1998 draft Bill and its provisions stand rejected. But we are of the view that any provision for dividing Delhi is not desirable and should be given up. The BJP had even talked of control over NDMC, what happened to that demand. Why have they suddenly developed cold feet on this aspect'' she asked.

Ms. Dikshit said she also planned to hold seminars during January to gauge the views of the experts, senior citizens, planners and professionals on what should be the future shape of Delhi as far as Statehood is concerned.

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