With garbage piles growing into mountains across the capital, the promise of a clean Delhi under BJP has collapsed into a farce. On Saturday, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD House, Ankush Narang, toured Civil Lines Zone’s Dhirpur and Kadipur wards, pointing to the rising filth and slamming the ruling party. He said even the Nirankari Samagam Ground, where the Prime Minister holds rallies, has now turned into a garbage dump — exposing the BJP’s ‘Delhi Ko Kude Se Aazadi’ campaign as nothing more than a photo-op.
During an inspection of the Nirankari Ground, MCD House LoP Ankush Narang stated, “This is the same Nirankari Ground where large gatherings and the Prime Minister’s rallies are held, but now mountains of garbage have piled up here. I have brought a coconut and a garland for CM Rekha Gupta and Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh so that they can come and inaugurate this mountain of garbage. BJP loves cutting ribbons and breaking coconuts, but neither the Delhi government nor the MCD knows how to govern.”
Pointing to the worsening conditions, he continued, “Heaps of garbage, debris and silt have accumulated in Nirankari Ground. This dumping is being done jointly by MCD, PWD and Delhi Jal Board. BJP’s ‘Delhi Ko Kude Se Aazadi’ campaign is only on paper and for show. This campaign is supposed to run from 1 August to 31 August, yet mountains of garbage are rising in Majlis Park, Ramghat in Wazirabad, and now Nirankari Ground as well, all within the Civil Lines Zone. Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh himself comes from the Civil Lines Zone, and this is the third garbage mountain within just two kilometres of his house.”
Citing BJP councillors’ own admissions, Ankush Narang said, “In the MCD Standing Committee meeting, BJP councillors themselves accepted that garbage is piling up in Central, South and West Zones. If the Mayor cannot keep his own zone clean, how will he clean the whole of Delhi? Who is allowing these garbage mountains to be created? Has CM Rekha Gupta, BJP Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva, or someone else directed that garbage mountains be made? BJP should stop lifting brooms only for photo ops, and instead get cleaning done at vulnerable points.”
Attacking the BJP, he added, “The people of Delhi had chosen BJP with high hopes, but despite having a so-called ‘four-engine’ government, the problem of garbage in Delhi is worsening. BJP, CM Rekha Gupta and Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh should be ashamed, because due to their failure, Delhi is turning into a city of garbage mountains.”
While visiting Ward No. 7 in Kadipur area, Ankush Narang said, “Garbage heaps are lying all across the Civil Lines Zone. This situation is not confined only to wards of AAP councillors but is spread across the zone. Even in the wards of Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh and BJP councillor Gulab Singh Rathore, the same conditions prevail.”
Sharing details of Ward No. 7, the MCD House LoP said, “There are at least 10 garbage heaps here. Residents say AAP councillors work 12–14 hours a day, due to which the garbage has reduced somewhat, but the situation remains serious. When I spoke to the Superintendent Engineer (SE) and the concessionaire of the zone, they told me that the same situation exists in the entire Civil Lines Zone, including the Mayor’s own ward. Where five tipper trucks should be coming, only two are coming; where six are needed, only three are coming. There is a shortage of loaders, and the condition of the trucks is so poor that they have to be push-started. The Assistant Engineer (AE) has written 10 letters complaining about this, but no improvement has been made.”
Highlighting the Mayor’s own responsibility, Ankush Narang said, “This is the same Civil Lines Zone from where Raja Iqbal Singh himself comes and where he was earlier the Chairman. Yet, in his own ward and zone, garbage heaps are lying everywhere. Four days ago, some councillors complained to the Mayor, but he declared himself helpless, saying that when his own ward is in this state, how can he help others?”
Commenting on BJP’s ‘Delhi Ko Kude Se Aazadi campaign, Ankush Narang said, “BJP leaders go to clean streets where there is no garbage at all just to get their photos clicked, while in reality garbage heaps keep growing. I want to ask Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh — is it not their responsibility to remove garbage from this area? Despite having a four-engine government — the Centre, Delhi Government, MCD and the Lieutenant Governor — Delhi’s situation is worsening.”
Demanding accountability, Ankush Narang asserted, “BJP must introspect. It was a mistake to make a dummy person like Raja Iqbal Singh the Mayor, who doesn’t even have the ability to improve his own zone. If he cannot improve his own zone, what change will he bring to the whole of Delhi?”
