"Kejriwal Deliberately Lying And Misleading People': Delhi LG VK Saxena Refutes Claims On Shakur Basti Land Use And Eviction Notices

Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena on Monday (13 January) countered Arvind Kejriwal’s claims regarding the Shakur Basti Jhuggi community, asserting that no decision has been made to change the land use of the area in question.

Saxena stated that two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members of Parliament (MP), Somnath Bharti and Dilip Pandey, were present at the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) authority meeting on 27 December.

“No decision has been made on changing the land use of that land as well. In the DDA's authority meeting on 27 December, two of Kejriwal's MPs, Somnath Bharti and Dilip Pandey, were present. If they had spoken to him, he would not have lied,” Saxena remarked.

The LG accused AAP convener Kejriwal of misleading the public about the Shakur Basti Juggi community and claimed that the DDA neither changed the land use nor issued any eviction or demolition notices.

Saxena clarified that the discussion in the DDA meeting pertained to a separate vacant railway land where no eviction notices had been issued. He further criticised Kejriwal for poor civic amenities in the area and urged him to take responsibility.

“I advise them to stop lying about this matter immediately. Otherwise, the DDA will take action against them. It is good that Kejriwal has reached a Juggi Basti today. I hope that he would have gone inside the Basti as well. If he had walked 2-3 km there, he would have seen how the people there are living in poverty. Who is responsible for this poverty? Cleaning, water supply, health services, everything is under Kejriwal,” Saxena stated.

The LG’s remarks come ahead of the 5 February assembly elections amidst a political tussle between the Delhi government and the DDA over land use and rehabilitation issues.