‘He never visited in five years’: Residents of Valmiki Basti on MLA Arvind Kejriwal
Mukesh has lived in the colony for the last 35 years and works for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). He is disenchanted by politicians.
3 min read
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal Ahead of the Assembly polls, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal Thursday visited the Valmiki Temple in Mandir Marg, in the New Delhi constituency of which he is MLA, and said he visits the Valmiki Sadan every third or fourth day. A few metres away, several residents of Valmiki Basti, from where the AAP launched its ‘jhaadu’ symbol in 2013, begged to differ and said “their MLA has not visited their area in the last five years”.
“We live here but the AAP did not even inform us of the CM’s visit or invite us… We got to know at noon… People at the event were brought by them (the party)… You are visiting Valmiki Basti to seek their support and not inviting them… then who are you giving the message to?” asked Mukesh Kumar, 35, a resident.
Mukesh has lived in the colony for the last 35 years and works for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). He is disenchanted by politicians. “All leaders from Narendra Modi ji to Kejriwal visit the temple and seek blessings… But after that, they visit us in the next election… What has he (Kejriwal) done for the Dalits or residents who live here? You did not visit the house of a person here who gave you the chinh (symbol) of your party,” he fumed.
Agreeing with Mukesh, another resident Dinesh Kumar, who works as a ‘Palika Sahayak’, said, “We are NDMC workers; 90% of the people who live in New Delhi constituency come under the central government… The roads here are better, there are street lights, timely water supply. Even if problems arise like electricity or water shortages, the NDMC addresses them… You are the MLA of this constituency, you come to seek our vote, but what have you done for us?”
The basti has about 321 houses and 6,000-7,000 voters.
Another resident Raj Kumar said, “… I supported AAP since the start but now things have changed… he (Kejriwal) is not an aam aadmi anymore… you can’t entice people all the time by giving things for free…”
Lajjo, 50, said they don’t benefit from all these free schemes. “I paid Rs 1.5 lakh as electricity bill in the last 10 months and I have only one AC,” she claimed.
“Where is the Rs 1,000 you promised us during the Lok Sabha polls?… Now, you increased the amount for a new election… You say the BJP stops all the schemes, but have you ever raised our issues?…,” she demanded to know.
She added, “Amit Shah might have said some wrong things about Ambedkar ji but at least he’s working for the people.”
Rajwati, meanwhile, was in two minds. “I am upset with Kejriwal as he didn’t visit us in the last five years and did not come for (local leader) Cheena Maharaj’s funeral… But the party provided facilities in other parts of the city… I still have some faith in him.”
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