: South Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, led by Member of Parliament Ramesh Bidhuri, protested over what they claimed was the failure of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government at starting drainage and other civic services in the unauthorised colonies.
A large number of party workers gathered outside Mr. Kejriwal’s residence in North Delhi’s Civil Lines which was heavily barricaded and had massive police presence.
The protesters were made to confront water cannons before being placed under preventive custody. They were later let off.
According to Mr. Bidhuri, around 155 colonies in the South Delhi Parliamentary constituency are facing the brunt of the Delhi government’s alleged oversight in this regard, with areas such as Mehrauli and beyond among the most parched. In these areas, water has been reaching once in three days, said the MP.
Severe power cuts
“These colonies are facing power cuts of up to six hours a day in this sultry weather. The people of Delhi, especially those from the unauthorised and resettlement colonies, voted for the Kejriwal government with great hopes but the Chief Minister has totally failed them,” Mr. Bidhuri said.
Despite the Central government’s directive, the MP claimed, the Kejriwal government had not moved a single file for approval of the colonies or to start basic civic services there.
“The people of these colonies will launch a massive agitation if the Delhi government fails to initiate better civic services soon,” Mr. Bidhuri added.
Mayor meets Kejriwal
Newly-elected North Delhi Mayor Sanjiv Nayyar on Tuesday called on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and demanded “immediate release” of funds in view of the “financial crunch” being faced by the civic body.
Mr. Nayyar said the meeting took place in a “good and positive atmosphere” and the CM “assured” that funds would be released soon.
The Mayor also invited the Chief Minister to visit the Civic Centre.
Besides the Mayor, other leaders of the BJP-ruled NDMC including Standing Committee Chairman Pravesh Wahi, Vice-Chairman Rajesh Bhatia and Leader of House V.P. Pandey were part of the delegation that met Kejriwal at the Delhi Secretariat. “We urged the Chief Minister for payment of dues including arrears. I also raised the issue of pending payments for alley roads, and the CM asked us to send the lists of related dues,” Bhatia said.— With PTI inputs
The BJP claimed that the government had not moved a single file for approval of the colonies
