Exclusive: 'This Delhi Vs That Delhi', Two Delhi Exist Within The National Capital; Who Is Responsible?
New Delhi: Winters are not over yet, the temperature of Delhi is increasing amid the assembly elections to be held on February 5. Political leaders were rallying, mass supporters were following leaders by cars, bikes, rickshaws, buses, and by foot. Slogans are being raised, mics and loudspeakers are loud, campaign songs are being played, and people are stuck in traffic. The roadshows were going on, on the same roads which reflects the apathy and negligence of the leaders who are going and meeting people.
Going out on roads make it visible that at present two Delhi reside in the National Capital, one is the Lutyens’ Delhi which represents the power corridors and another one is where the common man/woman lives and stays on a day-to-day basis. ‘This Delhi’ is ‘his/her Delhi’ and ‘That Delhi’ is the Delhi of the ‘Imagination’ of the people who live here.
To understand the imagination of the people living in Delhi, Timeline reached in different constituencies of Delhi including Dwarka, Tirlokpuri, Janakpuri West, Sonia Vihar, Karawal Nagar, Timarpur, Okhla, and Chandi Chowk. While talking with the people about the work of the existing government in power and the regional leaders of other parties including the BJP, the two major issues that were most visible, roads and other is cleanliness.
Badrunissa, a resident of Sonia Vihar, Karawal Nagar, said, “See, all roads are broken here and garbage is spread everywhere. The house of the counceller is just nearby but there is a heap of garbage even next to his house. The cleanliness is a major issue here and during the rainy season, multiple diseases get spread”. “The constituency is represented by the BJP MLA but he hardly listens to the people’s problems. The Sonia Vihar colony is unauthorized. They say we don’t get funds for the colony. But they come here to vote”, she added.
E-rickshaw driver while driving in the Dwarka sector 14 said, “Electricity, water and government schools are not a problem but the deep pits, broken roads is a major issue in this area”. The same issue of broken roads and cleanliness is very much clear in Timarpur constituency where the heaps of garbage were lying on the road.
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Mohammad Amaan, an auto rickshaw driver in Purani Dilli said, “We are happy with the schemes of AAP government including health, schools, electricity, buses, also the MCD vehicles come here regularly to clean the roads. But the problem of road is there. Narrow roads (gallis) inside are broken and remain in poor condition. That should also be taken care of”.
Reeta Rani, a resident of Tilakpuri, also complained about the exisiting situation of Delhi and said, “We want change this time. AAP government has spoiled the Delhi.”.
Also, the resident of Okhla, Delhi demands the upkeep of roads and drainage system in the area. Yasmeen, a local resident said, “AAP Government has done well but roads and hygiene must be looked into for sure”.
While talking to the AAP workers and BJP workers, about the cleanliness issue in the respective ares, they blammed MCD. In areas where MCD councilors and local MLA are from different parties, a negligence toward cleanliness is quite evident. In Okhla, when AAP members were contacted and asked the question about hygiene they said, “Ariba Khan (Congress candidate) is the Councilor here. She is not getting it done. How can AAP do this”.
However, people living in Karawal Nagar where BJP candidate is in power or Okhla regional where AAP candidate and Congress is looking into the area, blame the leaders for negligence. CPIM leader Ashok Agarwal said, “BJP leader even can not visit the area as the condition of the area is so bad. Roads are broken and garbage is everywhere”. Similarly, a woman resident of Jhuggi cluster in Okhla said, “No boday come here. They only come for votes”.
The interviews reflected that people of Delhi really look forward to change ‘This Delhi’ to ‘That Delhi’. But the responsibility takers are missing.
