The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to jhuggis with assurances and promises before elections—now they’ve returned with bulldozers. On Wednesday, AAP leaders visited Wazirpur where dozens of families were rendered homeless by yet another brutal demolition drive. Exposing the BJP’s betrayal of its own slogan ‘Jahaan Jhuggi, Wahaan Makaan’, AAP’s Delhi State President Saurabh Bhardwaj, slammed CM Rekha Gupta for lying daily while her government razes Delhi’s poorest homes. MLA Sanjeev Jha from Burari and former MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi from Model Town were also present during the visit.
AAP’s Delhi State President, Saurabh Bhardwaj, stated that from BJP Delhi State President Virendra Sachdeva to MPs and MLAs, all visited jhuggis before elections for night stays. “Even then, AAP had warned residents that BJP leaders weren’t coming to stay, they were scouting the area to demolish these homes if they won. Jhuggi dwellers trusted BJP’s promise of ‘Jahaan Jhuggi, Wahaan Makaan’ and believed them.”
He pointed out that the primary demand of jhuggi residents is simple—provide housing before demolishing their homes. “But the BJP government is demolishing jhuggis across many parts of Delhi without giving a single house. From Wazirpur to Okhla, Madrasi Camp in Barapullah, and Andrews Ganj, demolitions are happening. In Bawana Rohini Sector-22, 300 jhuggis were first set on fire and then completely cleared.”
Saurabh Bharadwaj reiterated, “Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta lies openly every day, claiming no jhuggi is being touched, while hundreds are being razed openly.” He questioned, “Is it a joke that the Chief Minister blatantly lies while the poor are deceived and displaced?” He mentioned a specific family where three children—one in Class II, one in Class IV, and one in Class VI—have lost their home. “Where and how will these children study now?”
The AAP Delhi State President further highlighted that even small livelihoods, like an electronics shop, have been destroyed. “The government has neither provided jobs nor made alternative arrangements for their survival. The downtrodden in Delhi are being robbed of both livelihood and shelter”
He recalled, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited flats built in Jailorwala Bagh and promised that all jhuggi dwellers would get houses at the same location before any demolition. Now, blatant lies are being told, and the poorest citizens are being betrayed.”
Meanwhile, AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha said, “Top BJP leaders stayed in these jhuggis and made big promises. Now the Chief Minister falsely claims no demolitions are happening. Today, we want to show her the truth in Wazirpur. If she has even a shred of shame, she should witness the destruction of these poor families’ homes. The children who used to study in school are now forced to live under the open sky.”
Sanjeev Jha stressed, “Humanity still matters. The Chief Minister must show compassion for the poor whose shelters are being demolished. These same people work in the bungalows of Delhi’s elite. The government should not be under the illusion that the city will function after displacing jhuggi dwellers.” Reminding the Chief Minister of her promise of ‘Jahaan Jhuggi, Wahaan Makaan’, he said, “If she has any humanity left, she must visit and see the injustice being done.”
Assuring legal and political support to the evicted families, Sanjeev Jha also affirmed that AAP leaders are consistently visiting these areas. He said, “Wherever possible, we will provide legal aid. Whether it’s the streets or the courts, AAP will raise this issue on every platform—including the Delhi Assembly and Parliament. The party will not tolerate this injustice against the downtrodden.”
On the other hand, former AAP MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi asserted that BJP’s true face has been exposed. He said, “The BJP’s real character and deceitful behavior have now been exposed. Before elections, BJP leaders stayed in jhuggis and dined with residents. At that time, Arvind Kejriwal had warned people to be cautious of BJP’s motives.”
He said, “Arvind Kejriwal’s warning has come true. The BJP promised ‘Jahaan Jhuggi, Wahaan Makaan’ but is now working to turn them into barren grounds. People are heartbroken. Some families haven’t eaten for three days.”
Akhilesh Pati Tripathi stressed, “The government should have rehabilitated these jhuggi dwellers and provided them homes. As per the law, before any demolition, a survey must be conducted, housing must be provided, and only then should demolitions take place. This government has not only insulted humanity but also violated the law by demolishing jhuggis this way.”
He concluded, “AAP will fight this injustice on all fronts—from the streets to the courts and Parliament. Saurabh Bharadwaj has come here as Arvind Kejriwal’s representative, and all AAP leaders will amplify the voices of jhuggi residents and lead this battle forward.”
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