Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel on Sunday challenged Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to an open debate over her claims on the so-called development in the Capital. Goel has raised 15 issues where, he alleged, the Government had failed to deliver. These include economic development, health, transport, water, power, education and environment, among others.
“The Chief Minister does not have any explanations on the failure of the Congress Government. Instead of responding to my charges, she has fielded three Cabinet Ministers to respond, who, in turn, have been misleading the public with wrong figures and false claims,” Goel said.
Goel said that the Congress Government needs to explain what development has actually taken place in the realm of power, health, transport, education and environment.
“It is ironical that the Ministers now are speaking on issues of corruption and efficiency of administration, especially when the CM herself has been indicted more than once by the lokayukta on charges of graft and misuse of funds,” Goel said, adding that Dikshit should come out in the open and explain her stance.
“Ministers like Raj Kumar Chauhan have no moral right to even talk about corruption as he himself had been indicted by the lokayukta. However, departments headed by Haroon Yusuf and Arvinder Singh lovely are some of the most corrupt and inefficient in the Delhi administration,” he added.
Raising the issues, Goel sought to know why the unemployment rate in Delhi has increased from 3.6 per cent in 1999 to 4 per cent despite claiming to have achieved unprecedented economic development in the city. “What was the need to grant food security to 72 per cent of Delhi’s population when the Government had claimed that Delhi has the highest per capita incomeIJ” Goel questioned. Similarly, he was also scathing of Government claims of being a power surplus. “Government claims unprecedented increase in power supply and the production of power. Why has power tariff increased by 300 per cent during the last 15 years and what is the need for giving subsidies to private discomsIJ” Goel asked.
“It is surprising that Delhi Government has failed to spend 29 per cent of the health budget. Despite Government’s claims of adequate healthcare facilities, the Delhi Human Development Report states that health facilities in Delhi are grossly insufficient with only two clinics for population of 10,000. Even the CAG has pointed out that there are not even enough lifesaving devices and services in Delhi Government’s hospitals,” the BJP president noted.