Delhi unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to challenge Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the issues of unauthorised colonies and sealing drive in the May 12 Lok Sabha polls in Delhi.
The BJP which was on the back foot till now has firmed up the plan to take on the ruling AAP accusing it of deliberately stalling the regularisation of 1639 unauthorised colonies despite being approved by the Central Government.
It may be recalled that the AAP Government has recently formed a high level committee to examine the hurdles and suggest measures for regularisation of these colonies. The committee will submit its report within three months.
This may be noted that the BJP has also sought to put the blame on the Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee for the sealing drive that has hit the trading community hard.
The Pioneer visited markets in New Delhi areas and spoke to several small and big retailers. Expressing unwillingness to become part of democratic exercise, the Baniya community expressed anger and dismay they claimed that political parties did nothing while their premises were sealed by the Supreme Court empowered Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA).
Sensing a backlash from the traders or the Baniya community which forms nearly 10 percent of votes in the national capital, the BJP will be launching extensive campaign as part of the damage control exercise.
“We will tell people of Delhi that the sealing drive in the city is by the order of the monitoring committee. The BJP-ruled Central Government or the municipal corporations have no role to play. The members of the monitoring committee have resorted to anarchy,” a senior BJP leader said revealing party’s strategy to deal with the subject. The BJP has also accused the monitoring committee of “running an industry” in Delhi by sealing commercial properties.
Union minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri has said the Narendra Modi Government has made necessary amendments in the Delhi Master Plan to offer relief to the traders. He alleged that despite several reminders, the Delhi Government did not initiate the process for mapping of unauthorised colonies in Delhi that essentially prevented these colonies from development works.
“During the tenure of Venkaiah Naidu as Urban Development Minister, the AAP Government had sought two years time to put in place a mechanism for development of unauthorized colonies but not a bit of work was done. Recently, the Kejriwal Government has further sought two years to complete the survey of these colonies which is mandatory for beginning any development work. This clearly is a deliberate attempt by Delhi government to deprive the residents of unauthorised colonies basic amenities,” Puri alleged.
It may be noted that nearly 30 percent or approximately 50 to 60 lakh of Delhi’s population live in unauthorised colonies and they are a major vote bank. A large section of these voters had voted for AAP in 2013 and 2015 Delhi Assembly polls. Regularisation of unauthorized colonies has been a poll plank for many years.
