MCD bypolls: Kejriwal promises `100cr for Bawana sewer project
Securitymen abruptly and unexpectedly set up makeshift checkpoints and conduct random searches
New Delhi, Feb. 24 Campaigning for the upcoming municipal corporation bypolls intensified on Wednesday with AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister claiming that the BJPruled municipal corporations in the city were in a mess and promised `100 crore for a sewer line project in Bawana.
However, the BJP led by state unit chief Adesh Gupta and his predecessor and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari hit back at Mr Kejriwal and accused him of indulging in “politics of propaganda”.
Addressing a wellattended roadshow in Shalimar Bagh (under North Delhi Municipal Corporation) which is among the five wards where bypolls will be held on February 28, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has provided 24hour electricity with zero bills, and good schools and hospitals.
“The MCDs are in a mess under the BJP,” he claimed and asked people to vote for the AAP candidate contesting from the Shalimar Bagh North ward which fell vacant after the death of the sitting BJP councillor.
“I have fulfilled all promises made in the last elections — providing 24x7 free electricity, improving schools and hospitals, and repairing roads and improving water supply,” he said.
In another roadshow in Bawana under Rohini-C ward, he said that the people in the area wanted a sewer line and promised to sanction `100 crore for it.
Mr Kejriwal was accompanied by Sunita Mishra, the AAP candidate from Shalimar Bagh North ward and Ram Chandra contesting from Rohini-C ward along with several MLAs, during the roadshows.
“We have elections on Sunday, you all must go and vote for AAP. We have worked to improve Delhi in the last six years by improving schools, hospitals, availability of electricity, and water. But, due to the BJP, the corporations are in shambles,” Mr Kejriwal said.
“It is your responsibility to make AAP victorious in the MCD, together we have to change the face of MCD,” he added.
Mr Kejriwal further said that if some other party was voted to power, it will not let the area develop.
“They will fight with me, as you must have seen how BJP (Centre) fights with me. I have fulfilled all my promises that I made in the last elections. It is your responsibility to make AAP win for the development of your Delhi,” he said in Bawana.
However, the Delhi BJP chief while campaigning in Shalimar Bagh said people will not vote for the AAP as its government in Delhi has failed to deliver.
He accused the Kejriwal government of “stalling development work” in Delhi.
Security across Jammu and Kashmir has been stepped up exceptionally with local cops and members of Central armed police forces conducting surprise cordon-andsearch and frisking operations in cities and towns particularly summer capital Srinagar at intervals. The Army is also launching sensitisation and area domination operations in select Valley areas quietly.
The scenes witnessed particularly in some crowded areas of the Valley’s main town including at and around historic Lal Chowk over the past few days are reminiscent of the early 1990s when the Kashmiri separatist campaign was at its peak. The adequately equipped uniformed men, abruptly and unexpectedly, arrive in an area, choose a location, set up makeshift checkpoints and roadblocks and conduct random searches which include frisking of pedestrians after making them wait in lines. They also stop vehicles and then subject passengers to body search and check their
belongings thoroughly.
The authorities said that such random operations have been necessitated by the recent spurt in militant attacks and in view of the reports that the separatists are planning more violence in coming weeks.
Last week, two policemen were targeted by a pheran-clad shooter with
an AK assault rifle concealed under the traditional Kashmiri outfit in Srinagar’s Barzulla area resulting in their instant death. Against the backdrop of this incident and the demand of banning pheran raised by some Jammu-based Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and likeminded outfits, the
security forces deployed along the streets and other public places in the Valley have in several instances forced people to take off the outfit. There have also been reports of visitors being allowed to enter certain government offices and other sensitive premises only after removal of pheran by them. This has evoked sharp criticism by political activities and netizens.
Counter-militancy strategists and policing experts also disagree with such actions and call for tactical changes towards dealing with the emerging situation by the security forces effectively.
Former director-general of police Shesh Paul Vaid said, “In 1990s also several incidents took place wherein militants used weapons hidden beneath their pheran to target security forces yet the garment was not banned. I don’t think banning a particular dress is a solution.”
He added, “Pheran and Kangri (traditional firepot) are part and parcel of the Kashmiri culture and lifestyle rather centuries’ old wisdom to beat the biting cold in winters. As said, banning pheran is not the way out. The solution is, be alert, stop the person you suspect, subject him to frisking and if you find him hiding an illegal weapon beneath his garment take action as per law. That is what we would do during the heyday of militancy to minimise such gory acts”.