Centre 'Wants To Rid Delhi Of Slums': AAP Minister Atishi Alleges Over Relocation Plans

Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj also spoke at a news conference, claiming that the central government's anti-slum policy had rendered roughly 2.5 lakh people homeless. 

Delhi Minister Atishi.

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi on Friday alleged that BJP is hatching a "new conspiracy," and wants to make national capital "free of slums." The Aam Aadmi Party said that the BJP met with land-owning agencies and expressly directed them to fully remove slums in the national capital. While addressing a press conference, AAP Minister stated: "Two days ago, a meeting was held in the Prime Minister's Office. All the land-owning agencies of Delhi were called in this meeting, and they were asked to remove slums from across Delhi."

"We have been witnessing this since a few months now that wherever there's land of Central Government, all slums are being removed from those areas. In November, during GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan), Sunder nursery slums of Mathura were destroyed on the instructions of the Central Government" she added.

Atishi took a jibe at the BJP for using green sheets to cover up the slum regions while US President Joe Biden was visiting India for the G20. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not want slum areas in Delhi. The slums were covered with green sheets during G20 because PM Modi does not want slums and he is planning to get rid of them completely", AAP minister Atishi said.

Slamming saffron party, she stated: "The BJP only cares about slum dwellers during election season. They pledge 'jahan Jhuggi wahan makan' every year before the votes, but as soon as the polls are finished, their love fades. Then they dismantle the slums and relocate many people to the city's periphery, like Narel did."

Senior AAP Leader and Minister @AtishiAAP and Minister @Saurabh_MLAgk Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/bfTVdKKjnK

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 12, 2024

Claiming that BJP is planning a "new conspiracy," she stated: "BJP wants to rid Delhi of slums." "They intend to eliminate all of Delhi's slums and relocate the slum dwellers. This is their latest conspiracy," she added. 

Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj also spoke at a news conference, claiming that the central government's anti-slum policy had rendered roughly 2.5 lakh people homeless. 

He questioned: "What happened to these people? They were not homeless... had they been relocated to Rainbaseras? Is it conceivable? How will everyone be moved to Rainbasera? How would a family of four or five live in a rainbasera?"