AAP questions Central award to Ahmedabad civic body, says BJP-Congress in cahoots

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat unit of the Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) today staged a protest here alleging "collusion" between BJP and Congress in conferring the Centre's best city award to the Ahmedabad civic body despite lack of basic amenities in the Jodhpur Tekra area.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation ( AMC) recently received Government of India's Best City Award for basic services to the urban poor (BSUP) and interest subsidy scheme for housing the urban poor (IHSDP), by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The award was received by Mayor Minaxi Patel, a councilor from Jodhpur ward, and civic chief Guruprasad Mohapatra.

AAP, which held the protest in the area located in the western part of the city, said how the award could be given to the civic body which has failed to provide even basic primary facilities in the Mayor's ward.

Close to 92 families are residing near Jodhpur village for the last 20 years without any basic facilities, AAP state convener Sukhdev Patel claimed.

"Three days back, their homes were brought down. These 92 families don't have basic facilities like homes, water, sanitation, schools and their family members work as ragpickers and sweepers. They do not possess election identity cards or even ration cards," Patel said.

He accused BJP of indulging in corruption in the name of development.

"Chief Minister Narendra Modi promised during 2012 Assembly elections that 50 lakh homes will be built. Thirteen months have passed since the government came to power, but still not a single home has been built. Whereas, they have destroyed the temporary hutments of 92 families staying here without providing them any alternative arrangement," he said.

Patel alleged that the civic body was given the award despite absence of primary facilities for urban poor only because Congress and BJP were hand-in-glove.