Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Narendra Modi-led government has large-scale plans to demolish unauthorised colonies in Delhi.

During a press conference, the Chief Minster said that a few Central government officials had told him about the plan.

“The Modi-led government now plans to demolish unauthorised colonies in Delhi in a large scale,” Mr. Kejriwal said.

“We were laying sewer lines in unauthorised colonies... about four-five months ago I came to know from a few Central government officers that the Modi-led government plans to demolish all unauthorised colonies in Delhi,” he said.

“They want to demolish the colonies and give it to big builders and rich people and take all the land. Around 60%-70% of Delhi’s people live in unauthorised colonies,” he added.

“If you [the citizens] want to save Delhi, fail BJP this time. Make our hand stronger... If we get seven seats in Parliament, we will not allow the Central government to destroy Delhi,” Mr. Kejriwal said.

“Recently in a ‘jansabha’, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said that the Modi-led government would demolish unauthorised colonies and would replace these colonies with high-rise buildings, in which residents of unauthorised colonies will be given flats,” Mr. Kejriwal said.

But once the land is snatched from the residents of unauthorised colonies, they will not be rehabilitated in flats of high-rise buildings and tenants residing in unauthorised colonies will be rendered homeless, he added.

Questions for PM

Mr. Kejriwal also posed a few questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rally in Delhi later in the day.

“Give answer to these questions. Why did sealing happen in Delhi? Why were lakhs left unemployed? Why didn’t you bring in an ordinance to stop the sealing? also, will Mr. Modi tell the people of Delhi what is his government’s deal with multi-national corporations?” Mr. Kejriwal said.

He also asked why Mr. Modi had promised full statehood for Delhi during the last election but did not fulfil it. The Delhi CM further said that the Prime Minister should clarify the relationship he has with Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

Takes on Congress

Mr. Kejriwal also attacked the Congress and said Priyanka Gandhi should not waste time by campaigning in Delhi as all seven candidates of the party were going to lose their deposits.