Taking a dig at Chief Minister Raghubar Das' promise to provide ‘legal rights’ to the residents of 86 bastis, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) president Sukhdeo Bhagat on Saturday alleged that the claim was only an ‘election jumla’.
He said that similar on the lines of BJP president’s claim that returning Rs 15 lakh of black money on every account was mere a ‘jumla’ for election, Raghubar too has used the claims to woo voters only. The Chief Minister must accept that it was an election gimmick.
“I think the Chief Minister only used the promise as an election jumla and nothing else. Das must accept it. He has been misleading people on the issues concerning 86 bastis. The
slum dewellers are still waiting for the rights,” said Bhagat
while talking to the newsmen at local Circuit House.
The district Congress staged massive demonstration at DC’s office protesting against Government’s delay in granting ownership rights to the slum dwellers. Congress workers in large numbers were present on the occasion.
He said that Das often forgot issues pertaining to the people of his constituency during the rule of Bharatiya Janata Party in the State. He said once the BJP gets out of power, the leaders of the likes of Das forget their duties towards the people.
“It is not new for Raghubar Das or other leaders of his party to forget issues of the people of his constituency while in
power. Das as local MlA behaved differently when in power and when out of power in the State,” Bhagat said.
He said no one in the city had any idea as to how many bustis in the city had been freed from lease. He said the rights of the people living in the various bustis of the city should not encroach on by anyone.
The State president said that the BJP Government’s steps were only to please the company rather than solving all the issues. This is the reason why ownership rights issue of 86 basti is still not solved.
“Moreover, the issues of providing power and drinking water to the urban slum dwellers have not been solved. This has been laid down in the clause of the lease agreement between Tata Steel and state government that they would have to provide civic amenities to slums near company township. But unfortunately, nothing happened forcing us to take up agitation,” said another Congress leader
The Chief Minister has promised providing ownership right to over 1 lakh people in 86 slums colonies in steel city. The people has been residing there from three decades.