CM's statement on Biharis stirs hornet's nest, CM says misquoted

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) An alleged statement by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit that people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh coming to settle in the national capital put a burden on Delhi's infrastructure today stirred a hornet's nest, evoking condemnation from several quarters.

She was quoted by some sections of the media as saying that people from UP and Bihar, settling in Delhi never desired to go back to their respective states, thus putting a pressure on infrastructure in the capital city.

Expressing his strong objection to the statement by the Chief Minister, BJP Delhi Pradesh President Harsh Vardhan said the Chief Minister should withdraw her statement and apologise for it.

The BJP Pradesh President said about 40 lakh people from the states permanently residing in Delhi were its lifeline.

''It is due to their hard labour and talent that Delhi is an important city. We are living in the 21st century. Today, the whole world is changing into a global village. In this situation the statement of Ms Dikshit indicates her fascist thinking,'' he said.

Mr Mahabal Mishra, Congress' MLA from Nasirpur, also condemned the CM's statement.

Reacting to the furore, Ms Dikshit asserted ''I have not said anything against anybody, least of all for people from UP and Bihar.'' Expressing surprise over what she described as a ''distorted version of her speech being presented in the media'', the Chief Minister said she had merely stated that Delhi was an attractive city and would continue to remain like this as it attracted people from UP, Bihar and all other states.

She added that the people from other states settling in Delhi never desired to go back to their respective states because modern infrastructure and opportunities existed here.

Ms Dikshit, while speaking to mediapersons in her office, said she had no intention of hurting feelings of the people coming from states to settle in Delhi in search of livelihood.

She questioned that since she herself comes from Uttar Pradesh how could she issue such a statement.

''The statement has been totally distorted and taken out of the context and is being deliberately politicised to create a misunderstanding and spoil the best of respect and affectionate relations that exists between our Government and all the citizens of Delhi,''the Chief Minister said.

Ms Dikshit had said around five lakh people were coming to settle in Delhi, especially from Bihar and UP, every year which created a challenge in providing basic amenities. 50 lakh vehicles also plied on the Delhi roads, requiring even more space.

UNI