Shakur Basti Demolition: State Government to Undertake Relief
Live Updates: West Delhi’s Shakur Basti was demolished on Saturday by the Railway Ministry.
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Highlights
- AAP,TMC, JDU leaders protested against the Centre outside Lok Sabha
- Rahul Gandhi visited the site to extend support to the displaced; promised to fight for their rights.
- ‘Encroachers’ where given multiple notices: Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister.
- Delhi Police registers case for death of child under section 304A (causing death due to negligence), claiming the death was not related to the demolition.
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal meets Suresh Prabhu, promises no more slum demolition.
- Tempo overturned during Blanket distribution.
In an interview, former Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said that the Prime Minister himself should take cognisance of the terrible event that took place on Saturday. It was a violation of Human rights, he added.
Chaos During Blanket Distribution at Shakur Basti
Chaos has erupted during a blanket distribution drive for residents of Shakur Basti a while ago. The demolition of the Shakur Basti slums has displaced many residents, rendering them homeless in the cold Delhi winters. In an attempt to secure a blanket, some people overturned the tempo which was carrying containing the supplies.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today at 5 pm to discuss the Shakur Basti Demolition issue. After the meeting, Kejriwal spoke to the media assuring that there will be no more demolition of slums in Delhi any more.
The Delhi Govenment and the Union Railway Ministry will demarcate the land required by the railways. Within the next 5 years, the state will prioritise the relocation of families and handover the land, only when the process is complete, Kejriwal added.
He also talked about legalising slums in some areas.
Delhi Police Registers Case Over Infant’s Death
The Delhi Police has registered a case of death due to negligence in connection with the loss of life of a seven-month-old girl allegedly during the demolition of a slum cluster in west Delhi’s Shakur basti. The case was registered at the Punajbi Bagh police station on the basis of statement of Mohammad Anwar, the child’s father, yesterday evening.
According to Anwar’s statement, a tied bundle of clothes fell down on the girl sleeping on the floor as the family was collecting their belonging in a hurry to vacate their shanty, said a senior police officer. The autopsy of the infant was performed at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital. The post mortem report has mentioned she died due to shock and injuries on the chest and head by an impact of blunt force. The autopsy has also revealed fractures in the ribs and a head injury, it added.
Media reports say Ajay Maken, the President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, has filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court for relief and rehabilitation of Shakur Basti residents after the demolition.
The father of the six-month-old child who died in Shakur Basti on Saturday claims that his daughter died due to a stampede during the demolition.
Media reports suggest that Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet today at 5 pm to discuss the Shakur Basti demolition issue
CNN-IBN reports that the demolition operation did not start till at least four hours after the child died at about 7:15 am. By that time, the officials had reached the site and the child, who was under a heap of clothes, went unnoticed due to the commotion, according to a Shakur Basti resident.
Reports say the Delhi Police has registered a case regarding the death under section 304A(causing death due to negligence).
‘Encroachers’ Given ‘Repeated Notices’: Suresh Prabhu
Speaking in the Parliament, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said he will speak to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal about accommodating people displaced in the Shakur Basti demolition. He added that the child who had died in the basti had passed away before the demolition and that ‘encroachers’ did not vacate despite ‘repeated notices.’
To this the Union Minister of Urban Development, Venkaiah Naidu made an official statement saying such encroachment drives should not happen in winters. He added that made his sentiments known to the Railway Minister.
Rahul Gandhi Visits Shakur Basti
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited Shakur Basti to extend support to the people who were displaced after a demolition drive was carried out by the Railway Ministry on Saturday, 12 December.
A child died in the West Delhi area, triggering an angry reaction from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who slammed the railways and suspended three officials for “failing to arrange” food for those evicted.
Speaking to the residents of the demolished slums, Gandhi said, “We will try our best to help you, you know we don’t have a government. Kejriwal and Modi are running the government. But I will help you.”
Earlier today Delhi Chief Minister tweeted that Rahul Gandhi is just a kid who doesn’t know that the Railway Ministry falls under the centre.
AAP Protests Against Centre
Earlier this morning at 10:30 am, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Janata Dal-United (JDU) leaders were seen protesting against the demolition outside Parliament.
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