'Over 80% of Delhi can be called encroached, will you demolish all?'
Kejriwal targets BJP over anti-encroachment drive
New Delhi, May 16: Slamming the anti-encroachment drive being carried out in various parts of the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said if bulldozers raze shops and houses of 63 lakh people in Delhi, which are considered illegal, it will be the "biggest destruction" in independent India.
At a meeting with Aam Aadmi Party MLAs on the matter, Kejriwal told them that they should be ready to go to jail for opposing the anti-encroachment drive being carried out by the BJP-led municipal corporations in various parts of Delhi.
"They are reaching colonies with bulldozers and razing any shop and house. Even if people show them papers to prove that the structure is not illegal, they do not check them," he said.
"Delhi has not been made in a planned way. More than 80 per cent of Delhi can be called illegal and encroached. Does that mean you will destroy 80 per cent of Delhi?" he said in an online briefing.
The party is against the way the anti-encroachment drive is being carried out, he said, adding nearly 50 lakh people stay in unauthorised colonies, 10 lakh in 'jhuggis' and there are lakhs of people who have modified balconies or done something that does not conform to original maps.
"That means homes and shops of 63 lakh people will be bulldozed. This will be the biggest destruction happening in independent India," he said.
While noting that the Aam Aadmi Party is against encroachment and wants Delhi to look beautiful, he said razing homes and shops of 63 lakh people will not be tolerated.
"In the last 15 years, the BJP was in power in MCD and took money. Their tenure will be ending on May 18. Do you have constitutional power to take such a big decisions. Let elections happen and let that party take the decision. Everyone knows that the AAP will come to power in MCD," he said.
He assured people that the AAP will solve the problem of encroachment and people residing in unauthorised colonies will get ownership rights.
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Society should stand for women, laws alone not enough for safety of women: T'gana CM
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday said that society should take the safety and security of women as a social responsibility, as making legislation or measures by the police would not alone be adequate to ensure their safety.
Speaking after launching 'Stand With Her' (a campaign of men standing for women) of the women's wing of Telangana Police, he said people should develop a practice of raising an objection when any incidents of trouble to women happens.
Observing that crimes against women using social media and technology, including deep fake videos, he said the state government has empowered the cyber crime wing to check such crimes.
"If Telangana is making rapid progress, there are appropriate opportunities available in government or private, corporate sectors. If they have to excel in job and livelihood opportunities, women should have safety. Making legislations and police taking measures would not be adequate. We all have to take it as a social responsibility," he said.
He said adopting an indifferent attitude and looking the other way when women face any inconvenience also amounts to encouraging the crimes in a way.
He said every youth should be a brand ambassador for women's protection in the state.
Observing that the Congress government has always been at the forefront in recognising the importance of women, he said a slew of women empowerment schemes were already launched.
He cited the examples of ration cards and 'Indiramma' houses for poor being provided in the name of women and loans to self-help groups.
