Thakre call to MBJP workers

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 19.

The former BJP national president and Delhi ``prabhari'', Mr. Kushabhau Thakre, today urged the Delhi party leaders to work unitedly for success in the MCD polls and sink all the differences. He was addressing a meeting of Delhi leaders and office-bearers at the party office this morning.

However, the four Lok Sabha MPs, Mr. Madan Lal Khurana, Mr. Sahib Singh Verma, Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Mr. Lal Behari Tiwari, stayed away from the meeting, which deliberated upon various issues relating to the Capital. Prominent among those present included local unit president, Mr. Mange Ram Garg, MPs, Mr. Vijay Goel and Ms. Anita Arya, Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Delhi Mayor, Mr. Shanti Desai, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Mr. Nand Kishore Garg and Mr. Ram Bhaj (MLAs).

In an interesting development, Mr. Verma and Prof. Malhotra are understood to have written to Mr. Thakre and Mr. Garg that at no point had they expressed their desire to quit the State Election Committee and condemned rumours being spread in this regard. Similarly, they stated they had never cast aspersions about the criminal background of some members of the Election Committee or had demanded their removal. This is seen as a clear setback to Mr. Khurana who had opposed the inclusion of certain people in the Election Committee.

Mr. Thakre is believed to have stated that petty differences should not be blown up and the party had to fight unitedly the challenge posed by the Congress(I) in Delhi. When some participants pointed to the continued failure of the four MPs in attending any of the three meetings this month, Mr. Thakre said they must be busy with some other urgent work and felt this should not be made an issue.

At the meeting, concern was expressed over continued attempts by the Congress(I) to politicise the house tax on unauthorised colonies. After much discussions, it was decided that the opinion of the residents would be sought before imposing the tax. At the same time, it was decided that the money collected as revenue would be utilised in the same area for developmental works.

It was also pointed out that the Centre was not at fault as far as delay in regularisation of unauthorised colonies was concerned. It was stated the Delhi Government had failed till date to finalise and submit the list of unauthorised colonies. It was stated the Delhi Government could submit the additional list of 238 colonies which could also be considered. ``Till date the Sheila Dikshit Government had not been able to compile a list of unauthorised colonies, which indicates the seriousness with which they were treating the issue. They are just shedding crocodile tears and have no sympathy for the residents,'' Mr. Mange Ram Garg remarked.

The party also decided to start a special drive for enrollment of voters during the revision of rolls from September 12 to October 23. A special committee had been constituted to overlook the work in this regard.

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