Kejriwal wants referendum on statehood for Delhi, seeks feasibility report

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi is once again at loggerheads with the Centre.

According to reports, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in favour of a referendum for residents of the national capital to decide if it should be granted statehood.

Kejriwal has asked the Urban Development Department to come up with a feasibility report specifying a timeline.

Statehood for Delhi has been a long standing demand of the Aam Aadmi Party, and even featured in their election manifesto.

This comes days after the Centre said that full statehood rights could not be given to Delhi government unless there was a general consensus in the country on the issue as it is the national capital.

"Whenever there will be general consensus in the country on giving full statehood status to the national capital, it is possible. But till that is not done, full statehood rights cannot be given to the state government," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. He was asked about BJP's views on granting full statehood to Delhi, as promised by it in the past.

(With PTI Inputs)