New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged that the BJP intends to demolish all slums in Delhi if it secures victory in the upcoming assembly elections. Speaking at a press conference in Shakur Basti, Kejriwal accused the BJP of prioritising land acquisition over the welfare of marginalised communities, reports The Times of India.
“They want your votes now and your land after the elections,” Kejriwal said, warning of a broader agenda to displace slum dwellers.
Kejriwal challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw legal cases against slum residents and ensure their rehabilitation within 24 hours. He declared, “If Amit Shah fulfils this demand, I will not contest the elections. But if they fail, I will stand as a shield for the slum dwellers. Let’s see who destroys them.”
Kejriwal also criticised the BJP’s ‘Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan’ scheme, calling it deceptive. “In 10 years, they’ve built only 4,700 flats for slum dwellers. With 4 lakh ‘jhuggis’ in Delhi, it will take them 1,000 years to provide housing for all,” he said. He accused the BJP of planning to acquire land from slum dwellers without addressing their housing needs.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia echoed these claims on X, stating, “The BJP has made 3 lakh slum residents homeless in the last decade. Now, they plan to bulldoze every slum in Delhi. Remember, this is a bulldozer party.”
Kejriwal, joined by senior leader Satyendar Jain, the AAP candidate for Shakur Basti, highlighted the stakes in the upcoming election. Delhi votes on February 5, with results on February 8. The AAP, which won 62 out of 70 seats in 2020, is vying for a third consecutive full term.
The BJP is yet to respond to Kejriwal’s allegations and demands.
