NEW DELHI: BJP chief Parvesh Verma Monday accused AAP of failing to fulfil its pledge of offering properties to slum dwellers and claimed these folks haven’t obtained homes regardless of paying giant sums of cash to the Delhi authorities below its housing scheme for them. The BJP candidate who has been fielded towards Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal within the upcoming Meeting polls, slammed the previous Delhi chief minister for his repeated claims that the saffron celebration would demolish all slums within the metropolis whether it is voted to energy.
“AAP has made a mockery of the system. They’ve been mendacity repeatedly, misguiding the folks of Delhi, particularly the poor dwelling in jhuggis (slums),” the BJP chief mentioned. At a press convention right here, Verma alleged the Kejriwal authorities betrayed Delhi’s poor. In 2013, the Delhi City Shelter Enchancment Board (DUSIB) collected Rs 70,000 to Rs 1,50,000 from slum dwellers with guarantees of everlasting properties however these households are nonetheless ready for his or her promised properties even 12 years later, he mentioned.
He claimed that the housing scheme for slum dwellers was initiated by the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress authorities however the technique of allocating properties was stalled below Kejriwal’s management. “Greater than 8,000 properties are absolutely constructed in Delhi, however as a substitute of handing them over, Kejriwal has prioritised constructing a palace for himself,” he alleged, referring to the renovation of the bungalow the AAP chief resided as chief minister.
The BJP has been taking jibes at Kejriwal and his AAP over the renovation of the bungalow as soon as occupied by the previous Delhi chief minister and has dubbed it a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for the “lavish spending” on it. Verma additional alleged that the AAP allowed the demolition of slums in areas reminiscent of Silver Oak Park, Ramesh Nagar, and Karol Bagh prior to now yr, rendering a number of households homeless.
On the press convention, additionally attended by a number of slum dwellers affected by the housing concern, Verma offered paperwork, which he mentioned have been obtained via RTI purposes, exhibiting that whereas the federal government had taken the cash below the scheme, the promised flats have been by no means handed over to the candidates.
“If Kejriwal can not hold his promise, I feel he shouldn’t struggle this election,” he mentioned, exuding confidence concerning the BJP’s win within the upcoming elections. The remarks by the challenger to Kejriwal in his New Delhi Meeting seat got here after the AAP chief challenged Union Residence Minister Amit Shah to withdraw all circumstances towards folks dwelling in ‘jhuggis’ and resettle these displaced inside 24 hours, vowing to not contest the elections if the BJP complies.
Verma additionally confirmed paperwork that purportedly indicated that demolition of slums had been carried out by the AAP-governed Municipal Company of Delhi (MCD) and slammed the celebration for “not having the ability” to resolve the problems dealing with slum dwellers whereas shifting blame onto the BJP. In response to Verma’s allegations, AAP in a press release mentioned, “Throughout elections, BJP indulges in ‘jhuggi tourism’ in Delhi. But it has rendered three lakh ‘jhuggi’ residents shelterless.
“In distinction, Arvind Kejriwal has tirelessly labored to make sure dignity for ‘jhuggi’ dwellers’ — laying sewer traces, offering water, and making certain electrical energy in 1,800 unauthorised colonies.” The celebration additional claimed that the BJP plans to demolish slums within the Shakur Basti’s Railway Jhuggi Camp, visited by Kejriwal just lately.
“The BJP should reply: ‘Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Kiske Makaan?’ Will there be properties for the poor or land for his or her pals? These BJP leaders who as soon as slept in ‘jhuggis’ and performed carrom with youngsters have betrayed them. On December 27, 2024, the LG modified the land use of a ‘jhuggi camp’ so {that a} demolition drive might be carried out,” the AAP added.
