Second gym in East Delhi park kicks off political row
SLUGFEST The BJP accuses AAP of ‘maliciously’ choosing a corner of the DDA park where a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ‘shakha’ is held; AAP says BJP unnecessarily making an issue
NEWDELHI: The construction of an open air gym in a park in eastDelhi’s Mandwali area, which is being constructed from the MLA fund of the local legislator, Manish Sisodia, has triggered a political fight between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP has raised objections to the construction, accusing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of “maliciously” choosing a corner of the park for the gym where a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ‘shakha’ is held. The park is owned and managed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and it already has an open air gym.
While deputy chief minister Sisodia refused to comment on the issue, a close aide said that the he had agreed to fund the project after some local citizens had approached him to get another gym in the park since the existing facility is always crowded.
The issue came to light on Friday when a group of protesters led by Om Prakash Sharma, BJP MLA from Vishwas Nagar, stopped work on the site.
“I was informed that the gym is being set up right in the corner where RSS shakha is held. This is clearly a malicious plan to disturb the shakha,” said Sharma who is also a member of DDA board.
“I do not understand why we need a second gym when we have already one in the park. I have asked DDA to not let it happen,” Sharma said, terming the project “unauthorised”.
AAP has made it a political issue and has been distributing pamphlets among residents the in east Delhi constituency as part of the party’s ongoing door-todoor campaign ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
“It is unfortunate that BJP and RSS are stopping a project that will improve health of people. You should make sure not to vote for the party that is opposed to initiatives like these,” reads the pamphlet.
Local AAP councillor Geeta Rawat alleged that the BJP was unnecessarily making an issue out of the project meant for the welfare of residents, especially women.
“The gym in the park is always crowded and women do not get a chance to use the machines. So they requested Sisodia, the local MLA, and he ensured that the demand is fulfilled,” she said.
“Shakha can be organised anywhere in the park. But we need a platform for the gym, which is already constructed in the park.”
Regular visitors to the park said there was a need of another gym. A visitor said they are losing out on a facility because of politics.
“There is a need for another gym. The one that is already here is mostly crowded,” said Neelam Mishra, a housewife from Mandawali.
A DDA official who did not want to be named said the work on the gym was stopped as it had attained political overtones. He confirmed that the project was being funded by the local MLA out of his official funds.
“We were told there is a gym. So we do not want to spark a controversy,” said another DDA senior official.