Arvind Kejriwal cites 'Brexit', says Delhi statehood referendum soon

New Delhi, June 24: Citing the 'Brexit' referendum, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the national capital will soon have a referendum on full statehood issue.

Last month, the AAP government released a draft bill on full statehood for Delhi and invited suggestions from the public till June 30.

"After UK referendum, Delhi will soon have a referendum on full statehood," the Delhi Chief Minister tweeted.

If Delhi gets full statehood, police, land and municipal corporations and bureaucracy will come under the state government. Senior AAP leader Ashish Khetan said the will of the people is supreme in democracy and it's time to have a referendum on full statehood for the national capital.

"After the UK referendum on EU exit, it's time to have a referendum on full statehood of Delhi. In a democracy the will of the ppl is supreme," he tweeted.

The United Kingdom has voted to quit the European Union in a referendum which is being termed as 'Brexit'. In July last year, the Kejriwal government had asked its various departments to prepare a "draft law and create machinery for" holding referendum on the issue of statehood for Delhi.

Delhi will soon have a referendum on full statehood: Kejriwal

The CM had asked the Urban Development Department to come with a feasibility report and specify a timeline. The department was asked to give various options available to the government for conducting such a referendum.

While releasing the draft bill on the statehood for Delhi, Kejriwal, last month, had asked BJP and Congress to "rise above differences".

Kejriwal had said the he would also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh , BJP President Amit Shah and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to garner support for the draft bill, which keeps the high-profile NDMC area, out of its jurisdiction.

PTI