Delhi should get full statehood, says Nitish Kumar

New Delhi, July 14: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday supported the AAP government's demand for full statehood for Delhi, saying his party would raise the issue in parliament.

"Delhi has been recognised as a state. It should be given full statehood," Nitish Kumar said after an almost hour-long meeting with Kejriwal.

"Our party (Janata Dal-United) will coordinate with other parties and raise this question in parliament."

Nitish Kumar, who was accompanied by his party colleague K.C. Tyagi, cited recent survey which said that 81 percent of Delhiites would support demand for Delhi's statehood if referendum on the issue was held today.

"People have voted for the AAP and (Arvind) Kejriwal. And they hold accountable who they vote for. They don't understand nitty-gritty," he said.

"Which officer will be the secretary of which department should be decided by the state government, which is accountable to the people," he said.

Kumar said his party would raise the statehood issue in Parliament

He was referring to the ongoing feud between the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party government over the posting and transfer of officials in the capital.

"If people have elected a government, they think that law and order should be in the control of the state government."

"But Delhi Police are not there (under the Delhi government)," Nitish Kumar said.

Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also attended the meeting between Nitish Kumar and Kejriwal.

Nitish Kumar arrived in Delhi to attend Congress president Sonia Gandhi's Iftar party, held on Monday. The JD-U is allied with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal for the Bihar assembly elections.

IANS