Arvind Kejriwal to take up demolition drive issue with Suresh Prabhu

New Delhi, Dec 14: Enraged over a demolition drive that has been blamed for the death of a 6-month-old infant, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he has sought a meeting with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu over the issue.

"Sought an appointment with Railway Minister, Sh Suresh Prabhu ji," Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

A fresh confrontation raged between the Arvind Kejriwal Government and Centre over the death of the infant girl at a slum cluster at Shakurbasti Railway Colony that was demolished by Railways yesterday.

The AAP government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the demolition drive and death of the six-month girl though railways has said that the incident had "nothing to do with removal of encroachments".

Police had said prima facie the baby died due to suffocation after a heap of clothes fell on it when the parents were preparing to move out of the jhuggi and hence no case was registered.

On Sunday, Kejriwal met Railway officials at his residence over the issue, but was unhappy with their response. "Railway officials failed to give satisfactory response as to why demolition drive was carried out when asked whether it was an emergency project," sources said.

They also said that when CM asked them about why proper rehabilitation measures were not taken before demolition, Railway officials said that they will inform their Board and Ministry about it.

"The Chief Minister was not happy with the Railway officials' response and he would take up the matter with Railway Minister," the sources said.

PTI