New Delhi [India]: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from the Greater Kailash assembly seat, Saurabh Bhardwaj, has accused the BJP-led central government of demolishing 12 slums in Delhi over the past two years and filing court cases for further demolitions. Bhardwaj demanded that the BJP withdraw these cases if it truly cares about the welfare of slum dwellers.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Bhardwaj said, “In the last 2 years, the BJP government and its agencies have demolished about 12 slums in Delhi… Several cases have been filed in court by the central government, demanding that these slum clusters be demolished… If BJP is a well-wisher of these slum dwellers, then all the cases filed in the court should be withdrawn in the next 2 days.”
Bhardwaj, who is the sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), is contesting the Greater Kailash seat against BJP’s Shikha Rai and Congress’ Garvit Singhvi.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticized AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, questioning why slums continue to exist in Delhi despite Kejriwal serving as chief minister for three terms. Speaking to ANI, Bittu remarked, “Kejriwal should answer why there are slums remaining at all. You became the CM thrice, and how do slums still remain in Delhi? Now he is doing slum politics. He says he will give a thousand rupees, does he not feel ashamed? Kejriwal does the same fraud in Punjab, and he cheats the people of Delhi in the same way. But now it is the limit. His expiry date has arrived now.”
On Monday, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal warned slum dwellers that the BJP values their votes but not their well-being, claiming the party plans to sell their land after the elections. Addressing a public rally, Kejriwal said, “I want to warn the slum dwellers that these days they (people of BJP) are staying in slums, they do not love you, they love your vote and will sell all your land after the elections.”
In the lead-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a special initiative aimed at connecting with slum voters. As part of this initiative, BJP leaders, including MPs and MLAs, have been staying overnight in slum areas to engage directly with residents. The campaign, titled “Where There’s a Slum, There’s a House,” is being promoted by the central government.
The Delhi Assembly elections are set to take place in a single phase on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8. A total of 699 candidates are vying for the 70 assembly seats in Delhi. The Congress, which held power in Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has struggled in recent elections, failing to win any seats in the last two assemblies. In contrast, AAP dominated the 2015 and 2020 elections, winning 67 and 62 seats, respectively, while BJP secured only three and eight seats.