
| NEWSNOTES Singh questions the credibility of Vajpayee statement on slums
From: Aroop Sen W ith the impressive response the Janchetna manch and the VP Singh is getting during his campaign against indiscriminate demolition of the jhuggi and jhompri in Delhi the issue is getting to a focal point in the state politics gradually. But the union government is taking a ostrich like attitude evening after promising action.Singh is almost addressing a meeting each day in different slums in Delhi drawing thousands of crowds mostly poorer and weaker section are assembling in large number to hear him. In the last few days he had addressed meetings near Kalka Mandir in South Delhi, in Patpargunj in trans yumna are etc. Every day scores of people are coming to his residence with complains of demolition of jhuggi and harassment. In various meeting he is saying that how the people mainly poor people are coming to the cities. He says that they have to come because they have no work in the rural India, no agro-based industry a land reforms etc. He adds in the same bread that only land reforms have taken place in left ruled states. Addressing a conference of the Dalit shoshit samaj earlier in the week, he said that only in left ruled states the dalit are still holding their land which belonged to them. Singh says that the rich only need them for cleaning their houses washing their clothes but wanted the poor to disappear into thin air once the chores were over. He said that there should be a policy whereby human settlements with basic cine amenities should be built for the labour class when multi storeyed residential complexes are built. Singh today addressed a press conference at his residents in which he released to the press a letter written by Singh to Prime Minister Atal BeahriVajpayee. Singh remained that the Prime Minister of the meeting with him H.D. Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral, Harkishna Singh Surjeet, A.B. Bardhan. It was agreed that no slum cluster on railway land in Delhi would be demolished without providing alternate sites for the dwellers .In this regard Vajpayee had assigned the urban affairs minister, Jagmohan the responsibility of taking up this matter with other concerned ministries. Jagmohan was given sole responsibility by Prime Minister to ensure that no slum dwellers on railway land are removed without providing alternate sites. Singh said that at that time you also assured that as far as the PIL pending before Delhi High Court is concerned, the central government would take care of it and request the court to grant sufficient time in order to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of all concerned. And the Jagmohan would formulate the draft of a national slum policy after contusing all concerned. Singh said that it has been brought to my notice that High court of Delhi has issued summons, to the DCP north-west district to be present in the court on26th April 2000 and explain why its earlier order regarding the Wazirpur jhuggis has not been implemented .it seems from this that the railway and urban affairs ministries have not presented the case before the court in the light of assurances given by you. I n our meeting of 27 March 2000 you had appreciated that this is a human problem which needs to be tackled with a humane approach. It is for this reason that you had given an assurance regarding formulation of a national slum policy in general and resolving the problem of Delhi slum dwellers, in particular. He said that he hoped that Vajpayees government will not approximately 40 lakhs slums dwellers in Delhi to be uprooted for their home and hearth with our providing them alternate sites in a manner that done not entail loss of their means of livelihood in the bargain. He said that the whole credibility of the Prime Minister and the government is at stake. Singh was asked whether he intend to take the campaign nationwide, Singh replied that his health is coming in the way. He said that his main aim is to make the poor fight, and the poor are fighting for their rights. He said 'one spark of a matchstick is enough for such a fire', and I intends to do the same. A journalist asked as to whether he intends to go on giving land to everyone who is coming and settling, Singh said not at all there must be a cut of year somewhere at present, and that has been as announced the government. I am only emphasizing that whatever policy the government had taken that should be implemented. A question was asked to him as to whether he is not pulling up Chandraskher who had grabbed about n 300 acre of land, Singh said that I cannot ask personal question, it is not me who had started the agitation, we know my main thrust was to provide ration card to the slum dwellers but when the Wajirpur people came on their own then we took up the issue. He said if you find anything fault on me, hang me. But dont deprive the poor of his dues. |
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