Why is the Delhi BJP Celebrating CM’s Ban on Slum Demolitions Without Rehabilitation?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's decision halts slum demolitions without alternative housing.
- The BJP commits to providing in-situ housing for slum residents.
- Previous governments are criticized for neglecting slum dwellers.
- Safety for residents living in hazardous conditions is a priority.
- Waterlogging issues are being addressed proactively.
New Delhi, Aug 1 (NationPress) - Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Friday expressed his approval of the recent declaration by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, stating that no government agency in the city is permitted to evict any slum settlement without first providing residents with an alternative housing option.
This announcement came after the CM's discussions with Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.
Sachdeva remarked that the BJP-led Delhi administration is dedicated to offering in-situ housing—meaning homes constructed at the same site where the slums currently are—to the residents of these slum clusters.
Moreover, he emphasized the government's obligation to ensure that individuals residing in unsafe environments, such as near drains or railways, receive access to safer and more suitable housing.
Sachdeva highlighted that every slum resident yearns for improved living conditions and a better future. However, he criticized the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administrations for treating slum inhabitants as mere vote banks over the past 27 years.
He pointed out that the previous administration left these individuals to endure dreadful living conditions without adequate amenities, whereas the BJP is devoted to enhancing the quality of life for those in slum areas.
Sachdeva underscored that while the Rekha Gupta administration is working to realize the aspirations of the less fortunate, Arvind Kejriwal's government merely offered them false promises in exchange for votes.
In another update, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor remarked that Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj appears taken aback by the BJP government's comprehensive strategy to mitigate waterlogging and guarantee timely drainage.
From 2015 to 2024, when Delhi was inundated every monsoon, Bharadwaj conveniently evaded accountability and has now resorted to unfounded allegations.
Kapoor noted that as the first phase of this year's monsoon concludes, thanks to divine intervention and the government's proactive measures, there have been no fatalities attributed to water accumulation.
He reminded Bharadwaj that during his ministerial tenure, July 2024 alone saw 30 accidental deaths due to waterlogging in the city.