AAP slams BJP move to woo Poorvanchalis

The Asian Age.

Metros, Delhi

Opposition: AAP fears loss of clout in slums.

Kapil Mishra

New Delhi: Delhi minister Kapil Mishra on Tuesday attacked Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari over his plans of camping in slums to woo Poorvanchali voters.

He said if Mr Tiwari is serious about the concerns of slum dwellers, he should stop the demolition of Kathputli Colony, which is the site of the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) first ever “in situ” slum development project.

“If you are serious about Delhi jhuggis and slums, stop demolition of Katputli colony that is being done by DDA and Delhi Police,” the Delhi minister said on Twitter. He even asked to explain his “slum tour” plans.

The BJP hit back saying the ruling Aam Aadmi Party fears loosing its political clout in jhuggi bastis.

“No one is destroying Kathputli Colony. It’s a rehabilitation project to give people proper living conditions,” Delhi BJP in-charge Praveen Shankar Kapoor said.

In 2009, the Central land-owning agency had signed a `6 crore deal with Raheja Developers to build multi-storey flats in the area to resettle resident families and use the remainder of 5.2 hectare Kathputli Colony land to build commercial property.

“We would like to ask Mr Mishra how will he describe the short period his mentor Arvind Kejriwal spent at Sunder Nagri in 2012? Was that a slum tour?” the Delhi BJP in-charge said.

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