NEW DELHI,— Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Shri Devender Yadav expressed deep concern over the demolition of 3,000 JJ clusters that left 15,000 people homeless amid extreme heat. He praised Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi and senior party members for swiftly supporting the displaced families and vowed that Congress will tirelessly fight for their rights—from grassroots efforts to legal battles and Parliament—recognizing the vital role the poor have played in shaping Delhi.
At a press meet held at the DPCC office in Rajiv Bhawan, Shri Devender Yadav was joined by former DPCC president and Kalkaji MLA Shri Subhash Chopra, ex-Delhi Minister Dr. Narendra Nath, former MLAs Shri Anil Bhardwaj and Shri Hari Shankar Gupta, along with Legal & Human Rights Department head Advocate Sunil Kumar and others.
Shri Yadav announced a 15-day campaign across all 675 JJ clusters in Delhi, reaffirming Congress’s commitment to protect slum residents from eviction. He criticized the BJP’s agenda as “Garib Ko Hatao” (Remove the Poor), not “Garibi Hatao” (Remove Poverty). While Congress leaders rushed to the sites like Madrasi Camp in Jangpura, Bhoomiheen Camp in Kalkaji, and Jailorbagh Road in Ashok Vihar during demolitions, BJP and AAP leaders largely ignored the suffering, only offering empty sympathy after securing votes.
He emphasized that Congress alone has actively fought for the resettlement and welfare of migrant workers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, who have helped build Delhi over decades. Despite holding valid residential proofs, these long-time residents were suddenly displaced. Shri Yadav condemned Kejriwal’s government for breaking promises over 11 years and accused the BJP of rushing to evict slum dwellers after winning power. He highlighted that both BJP and AAP had made false assurances during elections but failed to protect these communities.
Recalling Congress’s past initiatives, Shri Yadav noted that 45 resettlement colonies were created under Smt. Indira Gandhi, and Sheila Dikshit’s government constructed thousands of flats through three major in-situ housing schemes in Katputhli Colony, Bhoomiheen Camp, and Jailorwala Bagh Road. Under JNNURM, over 52,000 flats were built by 2014, with keys handed over to 3,500 families. However, the Kejriwal administration did not allocate a single flat in 11 years.
Shri Yadav accused the BJP of trying to erase the poor from official records, pointing out that many slum dwellers who have lived in Delhi for 40-50 years are missing from government surveys based on outdated policies from 2015. He also condemned the stoppage of ration card issuance in 2018 and questioned the Rs 700 crore slum development fund announced by the current government, noting that with no slums left, the money’s utilization is questionable.
Former DPCC president Shri Subhash Chopra criticized the BJP’s true nature, exposing its claim of being pro-poor as a facade. He recalled the demolition of hundreds of jhuggis in Madrasi Camp and Bhoomiheen Camp, despite BJP leaders’ initial visits. Shri Chopra also shared his experience securing approvals to build 8,064 flats in Kalkaji, with a total cost of Rs 240 crore, under the previous Congress government.
Ex-MLA Shri Hari Shankar Gupta reiterated that BJP’s policies have always neglected the poor, despite their fundamental role in building Delhi. He stressed that both BJP’s 12 years in central government and Kejriwal’s 11 years in Delhi’s leadership have failed to ensure proper housing for slum residents. Regarding slums near railway colonies, he mentioned Rs 11 crore allocated by Railways to DUSIB during Congress’s tenure remained unused due to government inaction.
Finally, Shri Anil Bhardwaj condemned the BJP’s focus on enriching the wealthy while disregarding the poor, accusing the current administration of pushing for slum demolitions rather than genuine upliftment.
About the Author
