Villages threaten poll boycott amid deteriorating conditions

Choudhary Surendra Solanki, leader of Palam 360 khap, has raised alarm over the worsening situation in rural Delhi, criticising both the Central and state governments for their “indifference” to the pressing issues faced by the rural population.

Solanki is leading the “Gaon Dehat Bachao Yatra,” which has so far covered 225 villages and aims to reach all 360 villages in Delhi before the upcoming elections.

The yatra’s latest stop was Chilla village in East Delhi, where Solanki was warmly welcomed by the locals. During the visit, he held an open discussion with villagers, addressing their concerns about the deteriorating living conditions.

“The situation in Delhi has gone from bad to worse,” Solanki said during his speech. “There is neither clean water nor clean air left. The AQI level has crossed 450, posing serious health risks, including cancer. The Central and state governments are too busy blaming each other, while the people suffer. There are no concrete solutions in sight,” he added.

Solanki highlighted that the condition of Delhi’s villages has worsened significantly over the past 10-15 years. “The villages are deprived of basic amenities, and the environment has become unbearable. People of rural Delhi are being exploited. This time, we will accept nothing less than real solutions from the government,” he added.

The yatra has gained significant momentum, with Solanki warning that if rural issues are not addressed before the elections, all 360 villages in Delhi will boycott the Assembly polls. So far, 225 villages have pledged to boycott the elections, with signs declaring the boycott being put up across various villages.

“Rural residents of Delhi have always been instrumental in electing governments, but their concerns have been neglected for far too long. This time, it’s a do-or-die battle. Panchayats are being held in every village, and preparations for enforcing the election boycott are complete,” Solanki said.