No more demolition without rehabilitation, says Kejriwal

Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the Centre and Kejriwal government over the razing of a slum cluster by railways where a baby died, as he visited the site in Shakur Basti area of West Delhi and assured the homeless that he will fight their “battle”.

On Monday, accompanied by Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken, Rahul Gandhi met the displaced men, women and children and vowed to fight for their rights.

Earlier in the day, Prabhu told the Lok Sabha that encroachments were a safety hazard that have been impeding development and that he will discuss with Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal ways to clear such public land.

Maken, has sought in his plea that the Railway Ministry and Delhi police be restrained from finishing up any additional eviction or harassment of individuals dwelling in Shakur Basti till applicable rehabilitation has been offered. “They are in power in Delhi”, Mr Gandhi was quoted as saying, in response to AAP lawmakers protesting at Parliament. “Tears being shed by Rahul reflect political opportunism”, said BJP Delhi chief Satish Upadhyay.

“You don’t run government with egos, you run them for the good of the people and requirements of a particular situation”.

Suresh Prabhu, the Railway Minister has made a statement on the issue of Shakurpur Basti demolition and said that the baby death has nothing to do with demolition He said that the baby lost his life prior to the demolition operation.

Accordingly, NHRC has issued notices to the Delhi Chief Secretary and Chairman of the Railway Board seeking reports on the matter within two weeks. “They need to ensure rehabilitation and provide them shelter”, Rahul said.

“Without making any alternative arrangements for them, their houses were demolished”.

Gandhi told the affected families: “We will try to help you…” We came to know about it only after it began.

Hundreds were rendered homeless in the winter chill and a six-month-old baby died after the authorities demolished hutments built on railway land in the national capital, witnesses and police said.

“Despite repeated notices, the encroachers did not vacate the place. In the process an infant girl has died and the post-mortem has revealed that she had received severe head injury and that her ribs had broken”, said Jain. “They did not arrange the same, so have suspended them”, Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.