Political parties are queuing up to impress the rural voters in the Capital with AAP and BJP holding rallies in different parts of Delhi on Sunday as the Assembly elections are around the corner. While AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal attended a dangal in Mundka where he promised to build India’s largest sports university at Rs 2,100 crore, Delhi BJP co-incharge Alka Gurjar, president Virendra Sachdeva and MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat addressed a public meeting in Kanganheda village of Matiala Assembly constituency. Delhi BJP General Secretary Vishnu Mittal was also present. Both Mundka and Matiala constituencies are home to old Delhi villages but also have a significant number of unauthorised colonies and slums. Last year, Lt-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had launched the Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan with an aim to enhance civic amenities in the rural areas. Officials said that till date, 573 projects worth Rs 523 crore have been sanctioned, with Rs 960 crore transferred to the Delhi Development Authority for the programme implementation. Piped Natural Gas has also been made available in the villages for the first time. Over the past decade, the AAP has built a support base in these areas. However, party sources said that this support has been slipping because of the unpopularity of the local MLAs in many such areas. Notably, in its first list, AAP replaced three sitting MLAs – in Seelampur, Kirari and Matiala. At the Mundka meeting, Kejriwal said the constituency has the highest number of kacchi (unauthorised) colonies in Delhi. “Mundka constituency has 73 unauthorised colonies where we have built roads and lanes. I’m not claiming that all the work has been completed, there are still areas where work is ongoing. However, significant progress has been made,” he said, adding, "If you give us another chance, we will complete the remaining work in the next term… Don’t worry. They put me in jail for several months, but now that I am out, I will ensure that all pending work is completed swiftly". Announcing plans for the sports university, Kejriwal said, “Construction will begin soon. It will take time, but it will be a massive university. People in our villages and rural areas are particularly passionate about sports, and this university will provide opportunities for our youth to shine in this field.” At its meeting in Matiala, the BJP, on the other hand, said the people of Delhi’s rural belt have been denied development opportunities for the last 10 years. “During 10 years, Delhi’s villages have suffered due to poor roads, lack of public transport, no new schools and lack of health services. People of rural belt very well know that whatever small maintenance or development projects have started in rural areas are happening using a special fund of over Rs 523 crore provided by PM Narendra Modi,” Sachdeva said. Pointing out the proximity between Matiala and Najafgarh, and Haryana, Gurjar said the residents know about the many social welfare schemes in the villages of the neighbouring state even as people in Delhi villages are suffering due to the lack of basic amenities.
