Banking on the historical connect with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the party’s vision for improving the most backward areas in the city, the Congress laid out its agenda in front of voters from resettlement colonies on Wednesday.
At a convention for residents of resettlement colonies here, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken asked the audience to pick the party in the municipal corporation elections next month.
Finding a connect
These colonies, a total of 44, were set up between 1960 and 1984 by Indira Gandhi. Back then, just over 2 lakh plots had been allotted. Today, as many as 15 lakh families are estimated to be living in these colonies, said Mr. Maken.
Addressing the crowd at Talkatora Stadium, Mr. Maken said: “The only time development works were carried out in resettlement colonies was when the Congress was in power. It was the Congress that established these colonies.”
Audience welcomes idea
He went on to reiterate a promise that the party has been making — that of ₹2,000 crore being spent on development of slums, JJ clusters, unauthorised colonies and resettlement colonies.
The Delhi Congress president added that a separate budget would be set aside for providing basic amenities in resettlement colonies.
“We will not start our work from posh colonies. We will start with the least developed areas,” he said even as the audience welcomed the idea.
“Ever since the Congress has gone out of power, no work has been done in our area. Roads are unpaved, drains are choked. In fact, a drain near an anganwadi centre is clogged and the health of children is at risk,” said Malti Devi Rawat, a resident of Baba Colony in Burari.
‘What has AAP done’
Pooja Kaur, a resident of Sardar Colony in Rohini’s Sector 16, said that when the Congress was in power in the State Government and the municipal corporation, the situation in her neighbourhood was better.
“Senior citizens are not getting pensions. The state of schools is terrible. We don’t know what the AAP has done,” said Ms. Kaur.
