Kejriwal may meet Modi today, discuss Centre-state relations

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, sources said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, sources said.

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According to a senior Delhi government official, the chief minister had sought an appointment with the Prime Minister and the meeting is likely to take place in the afternoon to discuss Delhi’s situation.

Sources said Kejriwal was likely to discuss Centre-state relations with Modi. In the past few months, a number of issues related to the appointment and transfer of officers, and the power struggle with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung has put the Centre’s relations with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government under strain.

Apart from this, Kejriwal is likely to push for getting land at concessional rates for a number of infrastructure projects such as bus depots and school buildings.

“The chief minister had sought time with the PM long time back and finally he will get an opportunity to raise key issues with the prime minister. There are a number of key issues that require immediate intervention of the Centre and can be resolved at that level. A number of decisions taken by the AAP government have been challenged or rejected by the Centre and those issues are also likely to be discussed,” said a senior Delhi government official.

Sources said the chief minister is likely to discuss the AAP government’s power struggle with the Lt. Governor over a number of issues which the government feels come under its jurisdiction.

“There are a number of issues related to the functioning of Delhi Police too that are likely to be taken up in the meeting apart from women safety issues,” said a senior Delhi government official.

During his Independence Day speech, hoping to end the bitter battle, Kejriwal had called for ‘synergy’ between the AAP government and the Modi government, saying a cooperative approach was key to development while insisting that ‘differences’ are healthy in a democracy.