MillenniumPost
Opinion

Delhi left high and dry

The city is facing power outages and water crisis in most parts.

As the scorching heat worsened water and power crises in the city, the Delhiites were expecting a helping hand from their elected government. They were surprised to see the 'mass leaders' sitting in air-conditioned waiting lounge of LG Secretariat and getting all the media attention which otherwise would have been devoted to their day to day problems.

The people of Delhi are still groping in the dark to know the exact reasons behind calling off dharna and the benefits from the nine-day dramatic strike of the Delhi Cabinet. The LG did not accept any of the three demands of Kejriwal – direction to IAS officers to end the strike, action against officers who were on strike for past four months, and approve 'doorstep delivery of ration scheme'. After the press conference by IAS association, Kejriwal had requested Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to mediate a meeting of his Cabinet with officers which he refused. Then Kejriwal himself negotiated a truce with the IAS association. According to sources, IAS officers have continued boycott of meetings at the bungalows of CM and Ministers.

The city is facing power outages and water crisis in almost all the up markets, residential areas, authorised colonies, unauthorised colonies, and rural areas of Delhi. At least three people have lost their lives due water-related issues. AAP government could not purchase even a single bus in around 3.5 years, due to which city transport has almost collapsed. The roads are filled with potholes. Furthermore, the result of board education in Delhi is low and the drop-out rate is at a record high. The monsoon is knocking the door but de-silting of major drains is either incomplete or not conducted. As the monsoon could reach Delhi in a couple of days, the city is staring at massive water-logging, traffic jam, potholed roads, and much more.

Kejriwal is like a student who hopes to top by reading throughout the night during exams. Since the manhandling of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash in February, Kejriwal has attended only 15 days in office which includes one day in February, 9 days in March, zero in April, 5 days in May, zero in June. After dharna of 9 days, he left Bangalore on 10-day holiday.

According to political pundits, another reason for Kejriwal's dharna was a strategy for being in the limelight of media to cope with his political alienation. Kejriwal's ambitions to join the grand alliance against Modi were dashed by Congress scion Rahul Gandhi who did not invite him to Iftar party. This was stamped by Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh keeping an arm's distance from opposition CMs who urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the dharna.

Why did he call off his dharna? The flays from Delhi High Court on Monday had put the Delhi Cabinet in an awkward situation. Secondly, after the collapse of Jammu & Kashmir government, the media glare shifted towards the valley. Thirdly, his holiday schedule for Bangalore!

(The writer is General Secretary, Delhi State BJP. Views expressed are strictly personal)

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