NEW DELHI
Aam Aadmi Party slammed the BJP and the Central Government for issuing notice to vacate the slums located at RK Puram under New Delhi Lok Sabha. AAP says that Arvind Kejriwal stands with the poor and will not allow BJP to do injustice to the slum dwellers. AAP candidate from New Delhi constituency, Shri Somnath Bharti, said that the Central Government agency has issued a notice to the people living in the slums of RK Puram Sector-12, directing them to vacate the place within 7 days. If these slums are demolished, I will be found lying in front of the bulldozer. They will be able to demolish the slums only after killing me. BJP is destroying slums and making people homeless, but Aam Aadmi Party will not allow this to happen. He said that although during the elections, BJP promises to provide houses in slums, but as soon as the elections are over, its promises prove to be mere phrases. Now BJP wants to make Delhi slum free, but this time the public is going to make the country BJP free.
The senior leader from AAP stated, “We have used this platform time and again to convey this message to the citizens of Delhi and India that the BJP repeatedly targets the weaker sections of the society. The BJP is after the lives of these poor people. The BJP is only working for the welfare and growth of the wealthy capitalists of the nation. None of the other sections of the country have flourished under their government.”
“A few days back, some of my fellow AAP leaders also tried to draw Delhi’s attention towards the political gimmicks of the BJP. Whenever the elections are due, these (BJP) people make fake promises like “Jahaan Jhuggi, Wahaan Makaan” (where shanty, there house), and the moment elections get over, they forget about these promises, and instead start troubling these people. They did the same thing in Kalkaji, Tughlaqabad, Sundar Nagar, and in many more places. What is more frightening is that all these activities, of demolitions and displacement, of making people homeless, happen during the months of bitter cold. Whether it’s children or the elderly, the BJP people have no concern for anyone, of what these people will have to go through”, he continued.
The AAP MLA also stated how these practices violate the laid down laws of the country regarding the rehabilitation of the uprooted sections. The law says that you cannot evict someone from a property without a proper rehabilitation plan. The rehabilitation scheme in India says that you have to give proper rehabilitation to the displaced people within 5 kilometres of that area. However, as usual the BJP only likes to trouble the weaker sections of the society, those who cannot stand up to them. The only person who fights for the rights of the poor and stands up for them is Shri Arvind Kejriwal, and the only party that fights for them is Aam Aadmi Party.
Shri Somnath Bharti further said, “Today, I would like to highlight a couple of similar incidents through this platform to raise awareness amongst the citizens of Delhi and India. How the BJP is continuously oppressing the poor people living in these slum clusters, people who don’t even have the basic necessities, people who do not have money to appoint a lawyer. The BJP, once again, has decided to wreak havoc on these poor people.”
Reading out the notice, the MLA stated, “This is to notify the people living in the slums of sector-12, RK Puram, that you are occupying the area illegally. This is troubling the residents of the area. You are directed to evict the area within the next 7 days.”
The AAP candidate from New Delhi constituency further questioned the genesis of such notices. He added, “Where does such decree come from? What is the genesis of such notices? Whose authority does it reflect? What we have discovered is that it was none other than the PM’s advisor Shri Tarun Kapoor.”
“While the face might be of Tarun Kapoor, a government official who is merely doing his duty, the orders are actually coming from the BJP and the Prime Minister’s Office. They have conducted a meeting of all the land-owning agencies, whether it’s the MCD, DDA, Railways, or PWD, and have directed all these agencies to make Delhi free of all these slum-clusters. They work on the pattern of ‘freeing’, make India free of this, make Delhi free of that. But the way they are working, I’m certain that the public will soon make India free of the BJP,” he said.
The AAP candidate from the New Delhi constituency also went ahead and gave a stern warning to the BJP. He stated, “I would like to give a warning to the BJP. The way you have only stood by and worked for the crony capitalists and waived off their hefty loans worth ₹13 lakh crores, that does not bother you at all. What bothers you is when Shri Arvind Kejriwal formulates or announces schemes for helping the poor.”
“Something similar happened with the slums of Kali Bari Mandir Marg, which were among the notified slum clusters. When you uproot notified slums, it is the law to rehabilitate them within the distance of 5 kilometres. Whether rich or poor, everyone has their needs and families. They have their own systems set up, whether it’s the children’s schools or family member’s offices, they are all set in their ways. If you abruptly ask them to relocate to a place like Narela, which is 40 kilometres away, they cannot get relocated to a place where they will have to suffer for the most basic needs. There are no roads, no facilities, and not even people residing in that area.”
Shri Somnath Bharti said, “The AAP has always supported the people. This is our warning to the BJP that this section of the society is not alone, the AAP will continue standing with the poor, whether it’s on the roads, Legislative Assembly, or the Parliament, we’re there with them. We have always stood by them and will continue this support, no matter what.”
The MLA added it is a misconception that the rich people can function without the weaker sections of the society coming from these slums. Even the wealthiest houses need these slum people to function properly. Whether it’s your drivers, your fruit or vegetable vendors, maid, nanny, or any other help, these people make up your support system that you rely on. He stated, “They make up the support system and we will continue supporting them. If anything happens to the slums of Sector-12, RK Puram, you will find Somnath Bharti lying in front of the bulldozer. You will have to kill me first to get through and touch these slums. I have the responsibility to fight for the people of the New Delhi constituency, the region I’m contesting from. It is my duty to fight for the people.”
“For the people dislocated from the slums of Kali Bari Mandir Marg, I would request the BJP not to rehabilitate them to Narela, which is 40 kilometres and would disrupt their whole lives. They must be relocated within the distance of 5 kilometres so that their lives can functions normally, and they can go to the same schools and offices”, he added.
Shri Somnath Bharti accused the BJP of being responsible for the homelessness of poor people. The slums which are being demolished come under the properties of the BJP. He also added that the AAP would not let the poor suffer and will continue fighting for the rights of the poor.
