Narrow minded politicians can never ensure development: CM

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) Expressing optimism that people of Delhi would foil the nefarious designs of ''those who divide society in the name of caste or religion for their narrow ends'', Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said those who divide the society in the name of caste or religion for their narrow political gains can never ensure development, "let alone think about it".

''You have successfully thwarted the nefarious designs of such forces in the past 10 years and I have every reason to believe why you would not do it for the third time now,''Ms Dikshit said, in an indirect reference to BJP and BSP, during the course of her campaigning in the Capital.

Addressing meetings in support of Congress party candidates from Nangloi-P C Kaushik, Tughlakabad-Sheesh Pal, Sangam Vihar- Amod Kanth, Kalkaji-Subhash Chopra, Badarpur-Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Okhla-Parvez Hashmi, she talked about all round development in the city during the Congress rule with emphasis on rural development and housing for the poor.

The Delhi Rural Development Board has already taken up 105 projects worth Rs 427 crore while Lal Dora has been extended.

Talking for housing for the poor, Ms Dikshit said some 10 lakh dwelling units are being constructed to relocate slum dwellers/urban poor under the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana and registration in this regard for the first phase has already been completed. Ms Dikshit said 10,000 houses are ready for allotment and fully developed flats would be given at lowest costs.

The Chief Minister said ownership rights would be provided to ensure a slum-free Delhi and over 3000 low-cost houses have already been allocated to industrial workers. At the same time, the Chief Minister said it will be our endeavour to create Housing Societies for government employees so that when they retire they can have a roof over their heads.

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