Odd-even rule a gimmick to divert people’s attention from core issues: Delhi BJP president

Manoj Tiwari writes to CM asking him to reconsider decision to implement scheme

Manoj Tiwari

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to reconsider his decision to implement the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme in the Capital arguing that it would cause “problems to the people”.

This, even as BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel accused Mr. Kejriwal of presenting false data to “mislead” the citizens of the Capital in a bid to justify his decision. On his part, Mr. Tiwari termed the scheme a “gimmick to divert the attention” of Delhiites from core issues which the AAP Delhi government had “substantially failed” to deliver on.

Mr. Kejriwal had on Friday announced that the odd-even scheme would be implemented in Delhi from November 4 to 15 as part of the seven measures to combat high levels of air pollution in the city due to crop stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab.

“I am writing to you, with great anguish over your government’s decision to introduce odd-even policy in Delhi once again in the month of November. The decision has been taken without proper thought. This had created so many problems for Delhiites the last time,” Mr. Tiwari wrote.

“In the interest of the people of Delhi, I urge you to rethink... this decision of implementing odd-even scheme and kindly spare Delhiites unnecessary hassles they would be subjected to with this move,” Mr. Tiwari also wrote.

The North East Delhi MP added that the move was an “insult” to law-abiding citizens who get their vehicles regularly checked for pollution as they would face problems in commuting and dropping their children to schools.

Mr. Goel said that the last time that the scheme was implemented in Delhi, the NGT had pointed out that two-wheelers should not have been exempted.

The MP said: “Kejriwal failed to do anything to prevent pollution in Delhi during the last 55 months and now in order to cover up his failures he is staging a political drama of odd-even... The Energy and Resources Institute and EPCA found that it has not been effective in curbing pollution in Delhi. The way in which the Kejriwal government is implementing it will not prove to be effective in controlling pollution.”