Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083054680400.htm

New Delhi

BJP accused of misleading people about illegal colonies

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of misleading Delhiites about unauthorised colonies, Outer Delhi Member of Parliament Sajjan Kumar and MLA Mukesh Sharma on Thursday announced that a demonstration would be organised at Jantar Mantar here this Sunday “to expose its real intentions”.

Describing the BJP rally on unauthorised colonies at Ramlila Maidan here this past Sunday as nothing but a political stunt, Mr. Kumar said: “The BJP has been against unauthorised colonies and when it was in power at the Centre and in Delhi it did not take steps to provide amenities to lakhs of people residing in these colonies. The National Democratic Alliance Government imposed a development levy of Rs.1,200 per square yard on these colonies.”

To counter the BJP’s rally in the Capital, Mr. Kumar said: “The Delhi Pradesh Unauthorised Colonies Sammelan’s representatives will stage a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Sunday to give a befitting reply to the political drama enacted by the BJP. Representatives of the 1,409 unauthorised colonies and residents’ welfare association members would participate in the demonstration.”

The representatives of unauthorised colonies would be addressed by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president J.P. Agarwal.

Leadership

Pointing out that a decision was taken to regularise 612 unauthorised colonies during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Mr. Kumar and Mr. Sharma said the United Progressive Alliance Government at the as well as Delhi Government under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi have decided to regularise the 1,409 unauthorised colonies in Delhi on the pattern of the policies of Indira Gandhi.

“This,” he added, “has perplexed the BJP and it has been making futile attempts to halt development work in the colonies on one pretext or the other”