Kejriwal acted as BJP ‘B team’: Congress on Delhi slum demolition
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Delhi government’s slum demolition drive has taken a new turn, with Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav accusing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of acting as the “B team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Yadav’s comment comes in response to AAP’s allegations that the Congress is trying to politicize the issue.
Speaking to the press, Yadav alleged that Kejriwal had misled slum residents by making promises to them without providing any concrete solutions. “We’ve consistently said that he (Kejriwal) has kept the people living in slums in the dark and acted as the ‘B team’ of BJP,” Yadav said. He added that Kejriwal made statements before slum dwellers but “avoided answering our questions”.
The Congress leader’s criticism comes in the wake of the Delhi government’s decision to demolish over 1,000 unauthorized colonies in the capital. While the AAP claims that the move is aimed at providing a better living environment for slum residents, the Congress has accused the government of being selective in its approach and targeting only those areas where slum dwellers are predominantly from the minority community.
Yadav’s comment has sparked a heated debate, with many questioning the motives behind the AAP’s actions. Some have argued that the party’s decision to demolish slums is a ploy to win over the Hindu voter base ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Others have accused the party of being insensitive to the plight of slum residents, who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The AAP, on the other hand, has defended its decision, claiming that it is an effort to provide a better quality of life for slum residents. “We are committed to providing a clean and healthy environment for all Delhiites, and that includes those living in unauthorized colonies,” said a party spokesperson.
The controversy has also led to a war of words between the AAP and the Congress. While the AAP has accused the Congress of trying to politicize the issue, the Congress has accused the AAP of being insensitive to the plight of slum residents.
The debate surrounding the Delhi government’s slum demolition drive has also led to a discussion on the broader issues of urbanization and the need for sustainable housing solutions. Experts have argued that the government’s decision to demolish slums is a short-sighted approach that fails to address the root causes of urban poverty.
“In order to address the issue of urban poverty, we need to focus on providing affordable housing and creating employment opportunities for slum residents,” said a leading urban planner. “Demolishing slums is not a solution, but rather a Band-Aid approach that fails to address the underlying issues.”
The controversy surrounding the Delhi government’s slum demolition drive is just the latest in a series of rows between the AAP and the Congress over the past few years. The two parties have been involved in a bitter battle for supremacy in Delhi, with the AAP having won the 2015 Delhi state elections and the Congress having been relegated to the opposition.
As the debate surrounding the slum demolition drive continues to rage on, it remains to be seen how the AAP and the Congress will respond to the crisis. One thing is certain, however – the controversy has raised important questions about the role of the government in providing for the needs of the marginalized and the need for sustainable housing solutions.
