Congress puts ball back in AAP court

The Congress on Monday put the ball in Aam Aadmi Party's court over government formation in Delhi saying that 16 of its 18 demands need just administrative decisions and have nothing to do with Parliament or assembly.

In a reply to AAP, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge for Delhi Shakeel Ahmed said the party is ready to give its support on full statehood for Delhi and a stronger Lokayukta.

AAP had on Saturday put the onus on the Congress and the BJP for taking their support to form a government by putting forth 18 conditions and wanting to know their views on them, a move seen as an attempt to rebut criticism that it was shying away from taking responsibility.

Talking to reporters, Ahmed said, "The other 16 issues do not require any agreement. All of them are administrative tasks. A state government, once it gets the majority, is competent enough to carry out such administrative function. There is no need to come to assembly and Parliament on these issues.

"The two issues are the only ones, which are outside the jurisdiction of Delhi. One is related to full statehood to Delhi, which is also in our manifesto and we have told them to give our support, whenever they take it up with Centre.

"The other is about Lokpal. We have said that we will support them if they want to make any changes in Lokayuka Act of Delhi if it is not contrary to any law passed by Parliament".

In his letters to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Rajnath Singh, Kejriwal had sought the views of Congress and BJP on various issues like ending VIP culture in the national capital, passage of Jan Lokpal Bill and CAG audit of electricity companies.