Kejriwal to Shah: Ensure homes for slum-dwellers, I’ll skip Delhi polls!
Arvind Kejriwal, AAP chief, challenged Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, vowing not to contest Delhi elections if the BJP withdraws slum demolition cases and guarantees housing for displaced residents within 24 hours. He issued this statement outside the Railway Jhuggi Camp in Shakur Basti, accompanied by MLA Satyendar Jain.
Kejriwal criticized the BJP for remembering slum-dwellers only during elections. He accused BJP leaders of engaging in “jhuggi tourism” to garner votes and called their gestures insincere. “The BJP thinks of jhuggi residents as insects. Their sudden love is just a ploy to win votes,” he said.
Responding to Shah’s earlier remarks about slum welfare, Kejriwal demanded proof of commitment. He challenged the BJP to withdraw legal cases and submit a court affidavit promising homes on the same land for displaced slum residents. “Accept this challenge, or I will contest, win, and stand as a shield for slum-dwellers,” Kejriwal declared.
He accused the BJP of prioritizing land over residents after elections, citing the alleged land-use change at Shakur Basti last December. Kejriwal claimed the BJP planned demolitions under the guise of their “Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makan” scheme, favoring builders instead of residents. He warned voters, “If you elect them, you’ll be homeless in two months.”
Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena countered Kejriwal’s claims, calling them false. He stated that the DDA had not changed land use or issued eviction notices. He urged Kejriwal to stop misleading people, warning of legal action.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva criticized Kejriwal’s track record, accusing him of inaction on slum rehabilitation. Sachdeva pointed to neglected flats under the Rajiv Awas Yojana and claimed Kejriwal had failed to improve living standards in slum clusters. He accused Kejriwal of provoking people instead of delivering results over his decade in power.
The confrontation highlighted differing narratives on slum welfare, with Kejriwal positioning himself as a protector of the underprivileged and the BJP accusing him of neglect and theatrics.
