Security cover at Valmiki Sadan,barricades prevent residents from catching a glimpse of Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Residents of Valmiki Sadan, the dalit colony in Delhi, were the focus of attention on Thursday, but like the rest of India they too had to watch the PM cleaning their streets through television.

Security arrangements for Modi’s visit to the colony were tight. Barricades came up as early as 5 am and even residents of the colony could not enter after 6 am, much to their annoyance.

Police personnel deployed in almost every house in the basti that houses over 400 families, prevented people from crowding and even viewing the event proceedings from their balconies, citing security reasons. Only a few female conservancy workers, children and prominent leaders of the Valmiki Samaj were allowed to be part of the walk with Modi who started his programme by visiting the Valmiki temple, adjacent to the famous room where Gandhi spent the last 214 days in the run-up to freedom.

"I was part of the intensive cleaning activity over the last 10 days to prepare for the PM’s visit but today, they asked me to stay inside the house and watch him on TV," said Jaditha, a disappointed conservancy worker. Women like her were however happy to get a bio-digester toilet that was inaugurated by the PM.

Residents said it was only built a few days ago, but will be much useful to their womenfolk who live in big families or in houses without toilets. Modi also paid a surprise visit to Mandir Marg police station and chided the policemen for the unclean surroundings.

As Modi was busy cleaning the sadan, nearly a dozen workers of Akhil Bharatiya Safai Kamgar Parishad demanded better facilities.