Most RWAs appeared unimpressed with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's announcement of "mini councillor" status to them if the AAP wins the civic polls. They said if the promise is fulfilled, it would prove beneficial for the people but past experience does not evoke much confidence.
Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress on Tuesday slammed Kejriwal saying that making the members of the RWA ‘mini councilors’ of the MCD is an ‘election gimmick’. Atul Goyal, president, United RWAs Joint Action (URJA), a confederation of 2,500 RWAs in Delhi, said, "RWAs are neutral bodies. We don't take sides in elections.
Just days ahead of the election you are trying to lure us." Goyal said there are thousands of RWAs in the city and if the AAP Government is serious about the promise they should bring an RWA Act. "Then only a real change will be brought in society," he said.
Echoing Goyal's view, Ashok Bhasin, president of a north Delhi RWA said, “If fulfilled, this will help people and bring a change. But these are hollow promises. In August 2017, he made a similar promise that RWAs will be involved in the decision-making. Then he promised to give funds to the RWAs."
BS Vohra, president, Federation of East Delhi RWAs, welcomed the announcement to empower the RWAs. "But the concept of mini 'parishad' is not clear yet. Any cash assistance must go to the SDM and work must be done through him. Let's remain apolitical bodies and therefore please don't ask us to run after votes," Vohra said.
Delhi BJP election committee convener Ashish Sood alleged, “The people of Delhi have seen from time to time that some AAP MLAs have neglected RWAs and misbehaved with their officials.
Like the MLAs, the corporators of the party who won in 2017 also never held any RWA or Mohalla Sabha meet in their area.” Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar termed this move a “blatant lie” saying that another false promise made by Kejriwal.
