Kejriwal challenges Amit Shah, promises Delhi housing.
He claimed that the BJP’s policies would leave them homeless in less than two months, accusing the party of working to benefit its “rich friends.” Kejriwal emphasized that under the BJP, the poor and marginalized communities, particularly slum residents, would face displacement, while the party prioritizes the interests of the wealthy.
In a bold move, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal issued a direct challenge to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, vowing that he would not contest the upcoming Delhi elections if the BJP withdrew the cases related to slum demolitions and provided a legal guarantee in court that all displaced slum-dwellers would be rehabilitated on the very land they were evicted from within 24 hours. Kejriwal’s challenge came as part of his ongoing criticism of the BJP’s treatment of slum communities in Delhi.
Kejriwal’s statement was made just a day after Amit Shah addressed the ‘Jhuggi Basti Pradhan Sammelan’ (Slum Dwellers’ Leaders Conference), where he made an appeal to slum-dwellers to “liberate Delhi from this aapda” (disaster). Shah further went on to suggest that removing AAP from power was the only way to ensure the welfare of Delhi’s slum dwellers. Kejriwal seized this moment to turn the tables on Shah, challenging him to take real action in favor of the poor and marginalized communities, particularly slum-dwellers.
Standing outside the Railway Jhuggi Camp in the Shakur Basti constituency, Kejriwal, accompanied by AAP MLA and former minister Satyendar Jain, positioned himself as the “protector of slums and slum Kejriwal’s words were sharp, stating that the BJP’s promises to slum communities were hollow, given their track record of demolitions and evictions.
Kejriwal’s attack on the BJP’s handling of slum communities has been a consistent theme in AAP’s election strategy. His rhetoric is built around defending the rights of the poor, particularly those living in slums, where conditions are often harsh, and access to basic amenities is limited. Kejriwal has emphasized that the AAP government in Delhi has always stood with slum residents, providing basic infrastructure and services in their areas, including access to water, electricity, and healthcare.
The issue of slum demolitions has been a contentious one in Delhi, particularly in areas where land is valuable or being redeveloped. Kejriwal’s promise to protect the land rights of slum-dwellers and offer them proper rehabilitation if they are evicted stands in sharp contrast to the approach adopted by the BJP, which has faced criticism for carrying out demolitions without offering sufficient rehabilitation or compensation. Kejriwal’s challenge to Amit Shah, demanding that the BJP make a public commitment to rehabilitate slum-dwellers, is an effort to force the BJP into a corner, highlighting their failure to address the issue adequately.
In addition to the legal and moral challenge posed by Kejriwal, his statement also serves as a rallying cry to slum-dwellers, urging them to see through the BJP’s election rhetoric and make a choice based on their long-term welfare, not short-term promises. Kejriwal’s appeal aims to resonate with the many working-class and impoverished communities in Delhi, who have felt marginalized and ignored by the political establishment.
This back-and-forth between Kejriwal and Shah underscores the high-stakes political environment ahead of the Delhi elections. It reflects not just a contest for votes, but also a battle over who can truly claim to represent the marginalized, the poor, and the dispossessed of the city. As the election season heats up, the question of who will protect Delhi’s slum-dwellers and their right to housing and rehabilitation will likely remain at the forefront of political debates.