Won’t contest Delhi election if Amit Shah withdraws cases against slum-dwellers: Kejriwal

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday claimed that the BJP would demolish all slums in Delhi if voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections.

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Addressing a press conference at Shakur Basti, the former chief minister accused the BJP of prioritising land acquisition over the welfare of slum-dwellers.

"They want your votes first and your land after the election," Kejriwal said, referring to the BJP.

There was no immediate response from the BJP.

The AAP chief further challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw all cases against people living in 'jhuggis' and resettle those displaced within 24 hours, vowing not to contest the elections if the BJP complied.

"I will not contest the election if Amit Shah withdraws all the cases against the slum-dwellers or displaced people. If the BJP fails, I will contest and stand as a shield for the slum-dwellers. Let's see who destroys them," Kejriwal claimed.

He also criticised the BJP's 'Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan' scheme, calling it an eyewash.

"In the past 10 years, they have constructed only 4,700 flats for slum-dwellers. Delhi has 4 lakh 'jhuggis'. At this rate, it will take them 1,000 years to provide homes for all slum-dwellers in the city," he said.

Kejriwal also alleged that the BJP has plans to take over the land currently occupied by slum-dwellers without addressing their housing needs.

"They will demolish all the slums and acquire the land without any concern for the people living there," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said on X, "Arvind Kejriwal has exposed every lie and conspiracy told by Amit Shah to the people living in 'jhuggis'. The BJP has rendered 3 lakh people living in 'jhuggis' homeless in the last 10 years. Now, it is plotting to demolish every 'jhuggi' in Delhi. People living in 'jhuggis' of Delhi, remember, this is a bulldozer party. If you vote for the BJP, all these 'jhuggis' will be demolished within a year."