AAP Slams Delhi LG, BJP Over Demolition Drives in National Capital

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly criticized Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ongoing demolition drives in the national capital. The party vowed to prevent the bulldozing of Pakistani Hindu refugees homes in the Majnu Ka Tila area of North Delhi.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly criticized Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ongoing demolition drives in the national capital. The party has vowed to resist the demolition of homes belonging to Pakistani Hindu refugees in the Majnu Ka Tila area of North Delhi.

AAP's Allegations

Addressing a press conference, Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the BJP-led Central government's Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is targeting thousands of Hindu refugees from Pakistan. He claimed that central government agencies, including the DDA, Land and Development Office (L&DO), the Railways, and the Archaeological Survey of India, are actively involved in demolishing the homes of people living in Delhi's slums.

Bharadwaj specifically highlighted the case of Pakistani Hindu refugees living in the Majnu Ka Tila area, who have been asked to vacate their homes by the DDA. He questioned the LG's hostility towards the poor people residing in slums across Delhi.

BJP's Response

In response to the AAP's allegations, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva expressed regret over the involvement of AAP leaders in "dirty politics" over the judicial orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding the eviction of Pakistani Hindu refugees from the Yamuna floodplain.

Sachdeva stated that the BJP immediately intervened upon learning about the eviction notice and managed to postpone the scheduled demolition. He assured that the Lt. Governor has promised not to evict the Hindu refugees without providing alternative accommodation.

AAP's Continued Criticism

Despite the BJP's response, AAP MLA Dilip Pandey asserted that the Union government harbors hatred towards slum dwellers and considers their settlements as an eyesore in Delhi. Another AAP MLA, Somnath Bharti, claimed that residents of the RK Puram Sector-12 slum have been issued notices to vacate their homes within seven days.

Bharti vowed to lie in front of the bulldozer if the BJP-led central government proceeds with the demolition of slums in RK Puram. He accused the BJP of making false promises of providing houses to slum dwellers during elections.

DDA's Refutation

In response to the AAP's allegations, the DDA issued a statement refuting the claims. The authority clarified that it has not issued any notices to the jhuggi jhopri dwellers of Sector 12 RK Puram to vacate their homes within seven days. The DDA emphasized that it operates within the framework of the Delhi Slum and Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy 2015 of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) for the rehabilitation and relocation of slum dwellers.

The DDA highlighted its ongoing in-situ slum rehabilitation projects in Kalkaji Extension, Jailorwala Bagh, and Kathputli Colony, where over 35,000 people are being rehabilitated with modern amenities and adequate infrastructure. The authority clarified that any relocation or demolition activities are conducted in accordance with the Delhi government's policy.

The ongoing controversy over demolition drives in Delhi has sparked heated exchanges between the AAP and the BJP. While the AAP accuses the LG and the BJP of targeting slum dwellers and Hindu refugees, the BJP maintains that it is acting in accordance with judicial orders and is committed to providing alternative accommodation to those affected.