Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the ruling BJP on Tuesday for “ruining” the city in a matter of months. The assertion came soon after fellow AAP leader Atishi was detained by the Delhi Police after joining an anti-demolition protest at Bhoomiheen camp in her constituency. The Delhi Leader of Opposition was released later in the day and subsequently held a press conference. The former AAP CM accused the BJP of betraying its election promises and alleged that the Delhi Development Authority was planning to demolish huts in the area on June 11 without allocating flats to all eligible residents.
“BJP is going to demolish these jhuggis tomorrow, and I am being jailed today because I am raising my voice for these slum dwellers. BJP aur Rekha Gupta ko jhuggi waalon ki haay lagegi…BJP will never come back,” Atishi had told reporters at the protest site.
“They ruined Delhi in just three months,” Kejriwal lamented via X.
The Delhi Development Authority had issued an official notice to all residents of Bhoomiheen Camp in South Delhi on Monday — directing them to vacate the premises in line with a High Court directive about demolition of illegal huts. The missive had given residents three days (till June 10) to leave voluntarily. It also warned that failure to comply would lead to demolition action by the authorities.
“Any belongings left inside the huts during demolition will be removed, and the agency will not be held responsible for any damage or loss to personal property,” the DDA added.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the Delhi BJP government of “running bulldozers” on people’s houses, shops, and their jobs.
On June 1, a demolition drive at Madrasi camp in Jangpura, South East Delhi, was conducted by the authorities, on the orders of the Delhi High Court, to clear encroachments in the area along the Barapulla drain. The operation was carried out to resolve the flooding issues caused by the narrowed drain, which obstructs water flow during heavy rains.
(With inputs from agencies)