BJP says Delhi govt`s pre-poll sops an eyewash, goes to LG

New Delhi: Accusing the Delhi government of cheating the poor and slum dwellers with pre-poll sops, BJP on Monday said the new schemes it was announcing ahead of assembly election were just an eyewash as it had failed to deliver on its earlier promises of providing cheap housing and amenities.

A Delhi BJP delegation led by state unit President Vijay Goel and comprising mayors of three Municipal Corporations as well as senior party leaders today met the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor Najib Jung and handed over a memorandum apprising him about the status of such schemes. "Delhi government has failed to fulfil all its promises, be it providing homes to slum dwellers, subsidised food through public distribution system, health care facilities or LPG cylinders. "Now they are announcing new schemes, which are all keeping the upcoming elections in mind and once the election is over, nobody would do anything," Goel told reporters. Goel said the LG had assured them that he would look into the matter, especially related to the poor and slum dwellers. State BJP had also put forward its demand that students passing from schools in the national capital should be given a weightage of four per cent in Delhi University colleges. "The LG`s reply was shocking and also highlights the apathy of Delhi government towards students of Delhi, when he said that there were 12 colleges which are funded by Delhi government and they can bring such provision but the government is not interested at all," Goel said. On government`s "failure" to implement schemes, he said in 2008, government had announced that it would provide houses to 10 lakh slum dwellers under Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojna and 10,000 houses were ready. "The government asked the eligible persons to fill a Rs100 form and lakhs had applied, but they are still waiting for their promised houses. I would like to ask the government what happened to the money collected from poor people," Goel said. PTI