Congress flays AAP for failing to give aid to homeless

NEW DELHI: Even as the homeless in the city fight the bitter cold, more than 900 victims of the demolition by the railways under the Mansarovar Park Metro line in northeast Delhi have become the refuge of political parties overeager to hold up the cause of the aam admi. The ousted Congress on Monday mounted an attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi on its second day of work, alleging that the latter had failed to provide relief to the families left out in the cold.

TOI had reported the demolition on December 27. LG Najeeb Jung issued immediate directions to provide relief to victims and put the driveon hold till winter is over. He has sought a proper rehabilitation plan. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board has been directed to ensure everybody gets relief. Since the demolition, there has been a constant flow of aid to the victims. the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee issued a statement on Monday where Delhi unit president Arvinder Singh said the party would not allow demolition of any JJ cluster.

The former urban development minister attacked the current government. He said those living in the JJ clusters were also humans and the government department bulldozes at will . The statement added that Singh went to the demolished jhuggi cluster at Mansarovar Park, accompanied by area MP Jai Prakash Agarwal and ex-MLA Vipin Sharma.

"It had been decided that all jhuggis which came up before 2009 will not be demolished without giving alternative plots; the demolished jhuggis had come up before 2009. But the administration demolished the jhuggis without notice, despite the jhuggi dwellers having ration cards." Singh condemned the action. The new minister Manish Sisodia said, "I want to ask the Congress to go and protest outside the railway department and ask the Centre why the railways carried out the demolition."