Calm after storm at Musharraf's haveli

By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

NEW DELHI, JULY 13. After two agonising days, there seems some good news at last for young Ripu Daman and her younger brother Zenney with the Delhi Government announcing on Friday that it would undertake repair of their little home here at Neharwali Haveli in crowded Darya Ganj, a portion of which was demolished by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for ``security reasons'' ahead of the Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf's visit to his birthplace this Saturday.

The Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, expressed shock today at the ``unfortunate'' manner in which the civic agency had torn down a portion of the house in which the orphaned siblings lived. She said the person who took this decision without any concern for the children should pay for the act.

On the other hand, the Chief Justice of India took serious note of the matter and directed the National Legal Aid Services Authority Member-Secretary, Mr S.M. Chopra, to submit a report. The children are understood to have told Mr Chopra that they only want their room rebuilt and would lodge a complaint only if that did not happen.

It was two days ago that an MCD squad demolished the room which was home to 17-year-old Ripu Daman and 11-year-old Zenney. At the time, Zenney was away in school. Though Ripu tried her best to salvage whatever she could, she was unable to save the room.

The demolition led to a public outcry for the children who lost their father, Harjinder Singh, and mother, Anu Singh, about four years ago and lived on their own. While pursuing her studies, Ripu also worked part-time to eke out a living.

The demolition was allegedly carried out on the basis of an old complaint from a Jain family living in the ancient haveli. The local MLA, Mr Shoaib Iqbal, who met the children today, charged that there was a "conspiracy" behind the demolition as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Security) had stated that bringing down the room was never suggested as a security measure.

The MLA now claims he will get the room reconstructed: ``I will do it come what may.'' His view, for once, is shared by his political rival and Member of Parliament, Mr Vijay Goel, who too met the children today and accused MCD of "wanton demolition".

``There is provision for compensation and we will either get the room rebuilt or provide a flat to the children,'' Mr Goel asserted.

The MCD Commissioner, Mr S.P. Aggarwal, for his part defended the official action saying the room, "which had come up as an encroachment over the years", was demolished as per ``security requirement'' since the agencies wanted a clear passage for President Musharraf.

Maintaining that it was not a case of the children being rendered homeless, he said ``an alternative arrangement is not required since the children have a good well-constructed room with bathroom and kitchen.'' But the public outcry has made MCD soften its stand. The Commissioner said the agency has no interest in the place and indicated that it might look the other way if the Government or local residents decide to reconstruct the room for the children.

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