New Delhi: Following the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom (UK), the Delhi government now wants a referendum on full statehood for the national capital.

“After UK referendum, Delhi will soon have a referendum on full statehood," Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Twitter.

The issue has been one that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government has been pursuing since coming to power in February last year. In July, the Delhi government had ordered a feasibility report on a referendum on full statehood for Delhi.

“After the UK referendum on EU (European Union) exit, it’s time to have a referendum on full statehood of Delhi. In a democracy the will of the people is supreme," said Ashish Khetan, senior AAP leader and vice chairperson of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi.

In May, the government placed in public domain a draft bill for the grant of statehood to Delhi. The bill, which seeks to transfer control of key authorities such as the police to the Delhi government, will have to be cleared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government once it is passed by the state assembly. The bill has been placed in public domain till 30 June for feedback and suggestions after which a final bill will be prepared.

Delhi is a Union Territory with a special status. Unlike other states, in Delhi matters of law and order and land fall within the purview of the Union ministry of home affairs — a dual status that has been a source of discord between the centre and the Delhi government.

Pursuit of full statehood was a key electoral promise of the AAP, which was elected with a historic mandate of 67 out of 70 assembly seats.

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