BJP leaders seek removal of 20 illegal colonies

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 19

Ever since Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu initiated the controversial demolition drive against the illegal constructions in the city, the minister has been faced with a barrage of criticism from within the party, with an MLA having defied the drive by climbing onto a JCB machine.

State Education minister OP Soni also joined the Congress ranks, indicating Sidhu could have waited a bit more before initiating the drive.

Sidhu, however, has found an unlikely support in some BJP office-bearers, who while demanding action against MLA Rinku, have rather been backing Sidhu’s stand and even posting video logs of some illegal colonies in the district – made by them – on the Facebook.

The two have also claimed that they shall be moving the High Court on the issue.

While Sheetal Angural is the general secretary of the BJP SC Morcha, Amit Taneja is former state head of the Social Media Cell of the BJP and Pradeep Khullar is the district Human Rights Cell president of the BJP.

BJP leaders Sheetal Angural, Amit Taneja and Pardeep Khullar have demanded action against the Congress councillor Sushil Rinku for obstructing the demolition drive. Also demanding action against illegal colonisers, they also submitted a list of 20 illegal colonies – many listed by Sidhu as well – to Joint Commissioner of the MC Shikha Bhagat here today where such illegal actions are allegedly being carried out.

The trio has been posting videos on the Facebook traversing some illegal colonies of the district, alleging the mushrooming of illegal colonies. Even as the Congress maintains a studied silence on the issue – with demolitions stalled amidst rising pressure – with various Congress leaders having hailed Rinku’s stance as taken in the best interests of the populace and poor, the BJP trio, however, demanded that illegal constructions in the city ought to be removed.

In their FB live sessions – which are being released daily ever since the demolitions were opposed - the trio even posted videos of the colonies whose demolition Rinku has opposed.

The colonies listed by the trio include Raseela Nagar, New Raseela Nagar, three on Gakhlan Road, three on the Kala Sanghian Road (where Rinku stalled the drive), among others at Basti Bawa Khel and other areas of the city.

BJP leader Amit Taneja said, “We are not backing Sidhu. We are merely asking for the removal of illegal colonies wherever these are mushrooming. There are buildings being made in the city where minus 3 or minus two-level basements are being constructed in thickly populated areas which will pose a great risk to people’s safety. What is wrong with the demolition of such illegal buildings which will cost residents’ safety. We have submitted a memorandum to the Joint Commissioner who has assured us she would look into it.”

Demolition stalled

The MC crackdown on demolitions remained stalled on Tuesday as well following the high-profile meet of the DC, MLAs, MP, MC Commissioner and Police Commissioner. The lull continued on Tuesday as well, with the MC not initiating any action in this regard either. MP Santokh Chaudhary said within a day or two, the Congress leadership shall be holding a meet with Sidhu on the issue. Chaudhary added be would be working our level best to defuse the situation.