The BJP on Wednesday tried to woo the significant Poorvanchali voters in poll-bound Delhi by promising to declare ‘Chhath’, a key festival of the community, a public holiday along with slew of sops if voted to power.
Former BJP president and in-charge of Delhi for Assembly Elections Nitin Gadkari also promised tickets to Poorvanchali candidates in areas dominated by the community. He assured medical benefits under free health insurance scheme and 10 lakh low cost houses to benefit the poor among the Poorvanchali people, who basically hail from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
“People of Poorvanchal will be given equal opportunities. I want to assure you, if BJP is voted to power in Delhi, Chhath puja will be declared a public holiday,” Gandkari said. He said a large number of people comprising the economically weaker sections are from Poorvanchal who are engaged in different jobs like workers, labourers, rickshaw puller and others.
“When the party comes to power, the 40 lakh poor people residing in Delhi will be given medical benefits under free health insurance scheme,” he said while addressing a conference of party’s Poorvanchal Morcha.
Going all out to woo the community, he said, “BJP government will construct 10 lakh low cost houses and a majority would be given to them.” “On what grounds is the Congress asking for your votes, if it has not done much for you people. Is the Congress trying to garner support by fooling the voters,” the former BJP president said. Taking a dig at the Congress, the senior BJP leader said that the post of president in Congress was reserved for the ‘Gandhis’.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel accused the Congress-led Delhi Government of ignoring Poorvanchalis during her 15-year rule. “For past 15 years, Poorvanchalis have been ignored by the Government. Instead of providing them basic amenities, they are holding responsible for rising crime and law and order situation,” Goel said, adding without these people the development of Delhi could not take place.
He said poor poorvanchali people face problems in getting ration cards, driving licences, aadhar card and above all, ‘the problem of police’. Around 30 lakh people are forced to live in unauthorised colonies without basic amenities like proper sewer line and water connection. “I can assure you, if the BJP forms a Government then all these problems will be resolved,” he said. BJP MP and co-incharge for Delhi polls Navjot Singh Sidhu also addressed the conference.