New Delhi, Feb 23(UNI) Reiterating his demand of full statehood to Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that he will go on an indefinite hunger strike from March 1 to press for the demand.

"From March 1, I will begin hunger strike. I am going to fast till we get statehood. I am ready to face death", Mr Kejriwal said, pointing out that 'Andolan' was the only way out of this crisis.
Despite people of Delhi who voted for the AAP government, it was not able to work for their benefit as it does not have the power to work for its own people, he said.
Mr Kejriwal further said the problems faced by the people of Delhi including cleanliness, women safety, increasing crime and law and order issues were the result of denial of complete statehood to the city.
He said that Delhi has become infamous for the crimes, especially rape, adding that all this was because the police was not under the control of Delhi Government.
The Chief Minister said that when people approach the police in distress and do not get any response, they approach their elected representative seeking assistance. However, in Delhi the police is under the Prime Minister and, he alleged, the PM was not easily approachable. ``I am also trying to meet the Prime Minister but the meeting is yet to happen,' he said.
Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his handling of national issues, Mr Kejriwal said, 'The Prime Minister is unable to handle national issues, why is he bothered about MCD, Delhi Police. He should worry about national issues. Let us handle Delhi.'
Mr Kejriwal who was speaking during the discussion on ‘Full Statehood to Delhi’ under Short Duration Discussion in Delhi Assembly further said that the several agencies such as DDA, MCD and others have not been working efficiently.
Had DDA been working properly, the sealing which is going on would not have taken place and inflicted misery on the traders and businessmen, he said.
Mr Kejriwal said if Delhi attains full statehood then there would be no hindrances in the developmental works and there will be around 2 lakh new jobs. He said within 10 years of getting complete statehood every voter in Delhi would be provided home.
Replying to queries from mediapersons outside the Assembly, Mr Kejriwal said that his move to go on indefinite hunger strike when Lok Sabha polls were approaching was an example of ``good politics.'
``If votes come in for a good cause, it is better than practising politics over caste, religion and other things,' he added.
UNI APS / VT 2029