Eyeing the Punjab elections slated for early next year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Tuesday announced that they will carry out repair work in colonies where the families of 1984 riot victims reside.
In what seems like a politically motivated move as AAP has emerged as one of the main contenders for Punjab elections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to immediately begin the work.
‘Horrible conditions’
The decision to repair at least 2,000 flats in eight localities was taken in a meeting headed by the CM.
Soon after the meeting, Mr Kejriwal tweeted, “The 1984 riot victims and refugees from Punjab (are) staying in horrible conditions. The Delhi government today decided to repair their houses [sic]”.
Repair work will be taken up in Tilak Vihar, Garhi, Raghubir Nagar, Sangam Park, Jahangir Puri, GT Road Shahdara, Kalkaji and Madipur. “The initial estimate for repair work is Rs. 10 crore, which will be revised on the basis of the actual estimate,” said an official statement by the Delhi government.
Survey has begun
DUSIB has already initiated the process of surveying these colonies.
“The condition of colonies where the families of victims reside is worrying and requires urgent attention,” said officials at Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board.
In June, the Aam Aadmi Party had alleged that the Centre was incapable of providing justice to the victims of the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.
The Kejriwal-led government had demanded that it should be allowed to form its own SIT (Special Investigative Team) to probe the riots.
