Demolitions hurt, Cong MLAs protest

NEW DELHI, February 2: Congress is discovering that removing encroachments in the Capital is a little more than an election promise. The series of demolitions by the Delhi Development Authority in the last one week has made the Congress MLAs rise in protest. The demolition process was set off on January 22, when Lieutenant Governor Vijai Kapoor directed the civic bodies to 8220;remove encroachments8221; and 8220;ensure that their lands remain free from encroachments or unauthorised occupation through physical inspections8221;. Today, 30 of the 51 MLAs have submitted a memorandum to Kapoor. It says: 8220;This demolition exercise is being conducted in such a fashion as to give an impression as if the Delhi electorate is being punished for supporting the Congress Party in the last Assembly elections.8221;

It adds: 8220;The Assembly constituencies where massive demolition exercises are being carried out are primarily those which have recently elected Congress candidates to the Delhi Assembly.8221; Logically, most demolitions would have to be in Congress constituencies as out of the 70 segments, Congress had bagged 51 seats. There are more excuses. 8220;This year Delhi is witnessing unprecedented harsh winters. At such a point of time, with the school children facing annual exams, it is inhuman and cruel of highest order to conduct this exercise of demolition.8221; The document begins by saying that the MLAs are not against removing encroachments, but says, 8220;There has been no sudden spurt of encroachment on Government lands. Then why suddenly such a massive exercise of demolition is being carried out by the DDA, which is not directly under the State Government of our party?8221;

The memorandum concludes: 8220;Is it not that, anticipating a mid-term general parliamentary elections and to degrade the Congress MLAs amongst the general masses, such a planned exercise at such a huge scale is being carried out?8221;