Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel today slammed the Congress government for neglecting the development of villages of Delhi during its 15-year long misrule.  He said that lakhs of people living in rural Delhi have been pushed to the margins of development in the absence of attention of the government. Delhi villages have lagged behind in development during last 15 years.
 
The Delhi BJP today also launched its 3-D video Rath for election campaigning. The Rath was launched at Delhi BJP headquarters at Pant Marg by Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra and BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate for Delhi Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
 
Shri Goel said, “The villages of Delhi are still being governed by laws made more than a hundred years ago. The Congress government has done nothing except paying customary lip service to benefit the people living in Delhi villages. The people are still struggling in these villages for civic amenities like schools, hospitals, railway reservation counters, water and power supply, road transport and even toilets.”
 
“Population of villages has increased manifold in recent years. More than one-sixth of the total population of Delhi lives in the villages, but the Lal Dora areas have not been expanded by the Congress government despite promises made by it several times. The Congress’ policies have converted these villages into slums,” Shri Goel said.
 
Shri Goel further said, “The Congress government has not even implemented the promised land reforms. Farmers don’t get good compensation for the land acquired by the DDA, which has made huge profits from those lands. Both the Congress government of Delhi and the UPA government of the Centre are hand in glove in exploiting the poor farmers of Delhi villages.”
 
Shri Goel promised all round development of the Delhi villages and requisite changes in legislation to bring these villages and lakhs of people living there on the path of progress.
 
Shri Goel said, “When elected to power after the assembly elections, the BJP make ensure all round progress of the villages of Delhi. We will extend the Lal Dora areas to properly accommodate the growing population of the villages. Sections 33 and 81 of the land reforms act will be repealed or amended so that farmers can get proper compensation and people can sell or purchase property easily in these areas.”
 
In the last 15 years of Congress’ misrule, the villages of Delhi and lakhs of people living there have been pushed backwards. The Congress government has not attended to the problems faced by people there. Basic facilities such as sewage system, roads, schools, hospitals, bus transport and the like are abysmally poor.
 
Lal Dora areas were demarcated in 1908 and have not been expanded till now despite the Congress government promised to do so before every election. Section 81 of the land reforms act is obsolete as it states that if a land is used for purposes other than agriculture and related functions, the land owner will lose the land. Similarly, section 33 stipulates that any piece of land of size less than 8 acres cannot be sold or purchased. The BJP has been voicing for doing away with these provisions to make people’s life in Delhi villages easier.
 

The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party President Shri Vijay Goel today lambasted the Congress government for not fulfilling its promises mande in the party’s manifestos in the past.
 
Addressing a press conference today, Shri Goel enlisted such promises made by Congress in its manifesto which were never fulfilled-
 
1.  Full Statehood: In 2003, Congress talked about getting full statehood for Delhi. For the last nine and a half years Congress is in power in both Delhi and at Centre. But no step has been taken to grant full statehood for Delhi.
 
2.  Lal Dora: In 2003 and 2008 manifestos, Congress promised extension of Lal Dora but this promise is yet to be fulfilled.
 
3.  Housing:  In 2003 Manifesto Congress said, “A development board for lower middle class government employees and industrial workers shall be constituted with sufficient funds at it disposal. A comprehensive project for providing built up houses……..shall be available to this section of the society. We shall Endeavour to enhance their dignity, prestige and social status. Similarly in rehabilitation in JJ cluster Congress promise a fresh look to rehabilitation of people living in JJ cluster.  In 2008 Manifesto, Congress further said that around 10 lac dwelling units are being constructed to relocate slum dwellers/urban poor under Rajiv Rattan Yojna.… 10000 houses ready for allotment.   All these promises remain unfulfilled.
 
4. Residential Colony for journalists:  In 2003 Manifesto, Congress promised Residential colony for journalists with soft loan and convenient installments. Current status is nothing has been done at all.
 
5.  Hospital:  In 2003 Congress said in its Manifesto that Construction of 650- bedded Rajiv Gandhi super speciality hospital at Tahirpur has started and is likely to be completed by December, 2004 with OPD services already started. Current status in 2013 is while only l OPD is still operational and the hospital is not fully functional yet.
 
6.  Power:  In 2003 & 2008 Congress promised to make Delhi a self reliant state in terms of power generation.  Reality is that Delhi has to purchase power from other states.
 
7.  Job opportunities:  In 2003, page no. 8 on Job opportunities for youth – it read as “Youth in Delhi shall have widespread opportunities to ensure their future, with an added feeling of social security. Recently they have released a document in which they have stated the unemployment is down from 5.76 to 1.74 lac in Delhi.  But actual figure is, there are 10.74 lac registered unemployed in Delhi. In ten years govt has given employment to only 11,242 people.
 
Shri Goel said, “There are host of promises which Congress makes on election eve and never fulfils. The people of Delhi want an answer as to why these promises are not being fulfilled.”
 
The BJP has a track record of fulfilling its promises in BJP ruled states. After coming to power in Delhi, the party will implement the development model which is based on long term vision and meticulous planning. “We believe in corruption free development while Congress believes in making development free corruption,” he added.

The Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel today  lambasted the Congress government for lack of resolve in controlling the spiraling prices  of essential commodities especially vegetables. 
 
Shri Goel said, “The skyrocketing prices of potatoes, tomatoes and onions are all approaching Rs 100 Kg each. They are even costlier that petrol or diesel now.   With the food inflation already hovering at 18% to 19%, and now the prices of vegetables shooting up, the common people are founding this burden unbearable now.”
 
The prices of vegetables continue to shoot up and they have gone beyond the reach of middle and low income groups.  But the Congress government seems to be sleeping on this issue. The statements by various Congress ministers are turning out to be hollow promises. For many months now, the Congress government has been assuring Delhi residents that the prices will be brought under control soon but the ground realties speak otherwise.
 
“What we are witnessing today is complete policy paralysis at all levels. Add to that the insensitivity of Congress Chief Minister and ministers and other leaders. The result is that common people are suffering immensely.”
 
In  context of the inflation issue, Shri Goel  raised following five questions today seeking anwer from Congress government
1.       Why Congress government is  not stopping export of onions?
2.       Why the  Delhi government did not respond to NAFED’s repeated requests of arranging supply of onions for Delhi through  imports well in advance?
3.        Why  the food and civil supplies minister Haroon Yusuf is not being sacked for complete failure to control prices and ensure enough supplies?
4.       What action has been initiated against those government officials who are  responsible for monitoring prices and doing crisis management on price front  ?
5.       Why such poor quality onion which is not fit for human consumption is often provided through government run outlets?

Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel today slammed the Congress government for compelling people of Purvanchal to celebrate Chhath Puja in dirty and extremely polluted Yamuna. He said that people braved the grave health risk in celebrating Chhath Puja due to neglect of the Congress government. Shri Goel took part in the Chhath Puja at ITO ghat of Yamuna.
 
Shri Goel said, “Lakhs of people throng to Yamuna ghats every year to celebrate Chhath Puja. This does not come uninformed, but the Congress government has always been found lacking in efforts. The government’s neglect has turned Yamuna into a dirty drain and people are forced to take grave health risk to celebrate Chhath Puja when they offer Arghya to sun god for their well being.”
 
Shri Goel said, “The neglect of Yamuna and proper maintenance of the ghats even during Chhath Puja betrays the inherent bias of the Congress government against the Purvanchali people. Several ministers of the government including the Chief Minister have openly blamed the Purvanchali people to hide their own failures for rising crimes in Delhi.”
 
“Every year devotees gather at the India Gate for Chhath Puja but it was shocking to see that the authorities prevented people from gathering at the venue this year,” Sh. Goel said.
 
Shri Goel further said, “The Congress government has neglected Purvanchalis and their cultural identity. Now, by asking some of the leaders to pay lip service regarding concerns of the Purvanchali people, the Congress stands exposed. The BJP will declare Chhath Puja a public holiday, when elected to power.”
 
Expressing his concern over state of Yamuna, Shri Goel said, “The government has spent more than Rs 2000 crore in the name of Yamuna cleaning but the river has only become unfit even for public activities. When elected to power, the BJP will do in 15 months what the Congress has not done in 15 years. Yamuna cleaning will take effect on the ground as soon as the BJP comes to power.”
 
In an affidavit to SC in October, 2012, Delhi Jal Board said that approximately Rs. 2072 crore has been spent by the Delhi government and Delhi Jal Board towards controlling and preventing the pollution of river Yamuna. By now, the Yamuna's polluted and black water should have been sparkling clean, as clean as the river's water is at its source. Instead, the 22-km stretch of the river in Delhi has become more polluted. The Congress government has failed to build a separate sewage flow and treatment apparatus.

Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel today slammed the Delhi Chief Minister for weakening the institution of Lokayukta. He said that the Delhi Chief Minister’s decision to not to give any commitment to the Lokayukta on defacing public property and misuse of public spaces betrays Congress’ absence of respect for the institution.
 
Shri Goel said, “The Chief Minister’s defiance of the Delhi Lokayukta’s directive comes naturally to her as she has deliberately strived over the years to weaken the institution that fights corruption. It is ironical that the CM is not willing to give a commitment to honour the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007 enacted by her own government.”
 
“It is the duty of the government to uphold the rule of law. How can a chief minister run away from taking responsibility to uphold the rule of law,” asked Shri Goel.
 
Shri Goel further said, “It seems to be an intrinsic character of the Congress to worke against the institutions that work for probity in public life. Similar thing is happening in Uttarakhand, where the Congress party is opposing the Lokayukta Act passed the previous BJP government. This is an attempt to perpetuate corruption.”
 
The Delhi Lokayukta had asked the Delhi Chief Minister and Delhi Transport Minister to give a commitment through an affidavit that they would not misuse public spaces and ask the party workers not to deface public property with posters, hoardings and banners. But, the Delhi CM has not given any such commitment. She has refused to take any responsibility in this regard.
 
The incumbent Lokayukta’s tenure ends today and the new Lokayukta can only be appointed by the new government after the polls. Under such circumstances, the Delhi Chief Minister’s refusal to give any commitment to uphold the rule of law shows the Congress’ arbitrariness in dealing with the anti-corruption watchdog.
 
The Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act has received Presidential assent, but the ruling Congress party is still opposing the Act. This proves that Congress has no intention to fight corruption anywhere in the country. It would be interesting to mention that the Congress is opposing the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act on the fictitious grounds of unconstitutionality even though the President of India gave his assent to the Act after due consideration of nearly two years.

Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel has asked the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to ensure proper arrangements for Chhath Puja in the city.  He also reiterated that the BJP will declare the Chhath Puja a public holiday when it comes to power in Delhi.
 
In a letter to the LG, he expressed concern that the Delhi government seems to be not actively making sufficient arrangements for the festival which witnesses participation of lakhs of people especially purvanchalis. He urged the party cadres to participate in large numbers in the festival and provide all the help that is required for smooth conduct of this festival.
 
Shri Goel said, “Delhi recently witnessed a tragic episode during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, when many lives were lost in Yamuna due to absence of proper safety measures. The government must ensure that a tragedy like Ganesh Chaturthi incident is not repeated as lakhs of devotees throng Yamuna ghats during the festival.”
 
“Safety at the ghats, deployment of sufficient number of police personnel, life saving guards, ambulances, transport facilities and traffic management and measures for safety of women should be adequately taken care of on priority by the government. Devotees, pilgrims and common people visiting the Chhath Puja ghats should not be left in the lurch,” Shri Goel said.
 
Shri Goel further said, “The BJP will deploy large number of party workers as volunteers at all the Chhath Puja ghats along Yamuna, canals and other water bodies in all the districts of Delhi.”
 
The matter relating to arrangements for Chhath Puja was discussed at a high level meeting of the state office bearers of Delhi BJP. The party leaders felt that due to lackadaisical approach of the Congress government, devotees and common people face lots of problems during such big festivals.
 
In his letter to the Lieutenant Governor Sh. Goel said that special arrangements should be made to ensure safety of women at the Chhath Puja ghats and along the roads leading to the worship sites. He also said that the administration should take measures for crowd management at the Chhath Puja ghats.
 
Shri Goel has also directed the Mayors of the three BJP-ruled municipal corporations urging them to make take appropriate measures to ensure that Chhath Puja is celebrated with traditional fervour by the people of Delhi. He asked them to take all measures to provide all the possible facilities to the devotees and common people celebrating Chhath Puja in parks, make-shift ponds and other water bodies in areas under the three municipal corporations. The areas under jurisdiction of the MCDs should be cleaned and sanitized, with proper lime powder markings, he said.

Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel today extended his heartiest greetings to the whole of Delhi on the occasion of Diwali. He expressed hope that the light of Diwali will expel the darkness of Congress’ misrule of 15 years.
 
Addressing the Delhi BJP State Level office bearers at the Delhi BJP headquarters at Pt. Pant Marg, Sh. Goel said, “I would urge all the party cadres on the occasion of Diwali to take a resolve that they will bring back the light of BJP’s rule and do away with the darkness of Congress’ misrule in days to come.”
 
Shri Goel said, “As the date of poll is approaching fast, I call upon the BJP cadres to work at the grass-root level in large numbers. Wherever, there is a BJP government in the last few years, there has been good governance. We are confident that the BJP will score a historic win in the Delhi assembly polls and defeat the Congress comprehensively. The BJP will bring good governance to Delhi after the polls.”
 
Shri Goel further said, “It is very distressing that people of Delhi are not in a position to celebrate Diwali the way they wish to due to unprecedented rise in prices. Such a situation had seldom been witnessed in the history of Delhi, when people instead of celebrating festivals looked more worried about prices of essential commodities.”
 
“The present government of Delhi has shown no resolve to bring down the prices. There has been no innovating planning to check rising prices and the common people of Delhi have to pay the price for the inefficiency of the government”, Shri Goel said.
 
Shri Goel said, “Not only the prices of onions, potatoes and other vegetables are high, but the rates of petrol, diesel and LPG are also very high. The combined effect is that both the common man and traders are suffering due to mismanagement by the Congress government.”
 
Shri Goel called upon the party cadres to go out in every nook and corner of Delhi and will connect with every household of the city to expose the misdeeds of the Congress government.
 
Shri Goel urged party cadres to defuse the Congress’s claims by bringing forth the real picture of Delhi on the issues of price rise, corruption, lack of opportunity for the youth, deterioration of women’s safety, lack of development in unauthorized colonies and slums, lack of transparency and absence of accountability in the government.

The  Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party President Shri Vijay Goel today  lambasted the Congress led UPA government for mooting a proposal to rename the existing Targeted Public Distribution System as Indiraamma Anna Yojana Shri Goel said this is a blatant attempt by Congress to get political mileage from national resources and the BJP will oppose any such move. The BJP will not allow Congress to hijack the national resources for petty political gains.
 
The Union food minister K.V. Thomas have recently said on record that there is a proposal to rename the existing Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and the government is considering renaming it as Indiramma Anna Yojana.
 
Shri Goel said, “Right now no new announcements regarding renaming of the scheme after a particular political leader belonging to any political party can be made, yet the Congress leaders are attempting to violate these norms. The Election Commission should take note of this and take strict action against the Union Food Minister for going public with such comments.”
 
The Union Food Minister’s statement, at a time when election code of conduct is in force, is against the spirit of democratic norms and the Congress seems to desperate to misuse its position by naming a system meant for the poor in one of its own leaders’ name.
 
Shri Goel said the latest step is not a standalone case. In the last few days the Congress has been blatantly misusing government resources. He expressed concern that the Election Commission is adopting a very lenient approach when it comes to violation of poll guidelines by Congress leaders.”
 
“We are concerned that the Election Commission seems to be quite soft on poll guidelines violations by Congress. We demand strict  and immediate action  in such instances,” said Shri Goel.
 
“The BJP had recently pointed out the printing of photographs of CM and Power Minister on thousands of BSES bills. After that the BSES, which has 49% stake of Delhi government, accepted this was violation of poll guidelines yet it has been let off the hook with no action taken against anyone.
 
The Election Commission should penalize all those who were involved in violation of these norms by BSES. There is no action visible on the ground. The BJP will take up this matter further as it wants strict action against those who are working hand in glove with Congress government for misuse of official machinery, said Shri Goel.
 
The Delhi BJP President also pointed out that the Chief Minister’s official residence is being used for political press conferences. “We would like to know why no action is being taken by the Election Commission to stop this misuse of official machinery. The BJP demands that the misuse of official residence of CM should be immediately stopped and action should be initiated against CM and her three ministers who are holding regular press conferences there.”

The Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel today lambasted the Congress government for mismanagement of Delhi. He said the latest Delhi High Court order indicting Congress government for absence of planning in all spheres of governance vindicates BJP’s stand that Congress government has ruined Delhi turning it into slum and rape capital. The BJP’s vision comprises long term planning for at least next 20 years in all key areas such as power, water, education, health, urban planning, housing, women safety etc.
 
In the last 15 years, the Delhi High Court has entertained more than 300 writ petitions on people’s issues and issued directions to the Delhi government to redress those issues.
 
Shri Goel said, “The BJP stands vindicated after Delhi High Court’s order holding Delhi government responsible for the mismanagement of the city. The BJP has been saying for long that the Congress government in Delhi has neglected key issues like women safety, power, water, sewage, education, health, roads, development in unauthorized colonies and rehabilitation of slum dwellers.”
 
“Despite announcements of spending Rs. 2800 crore, there is lack of basic amenities in the unauthorized colonies. The water supply and sewage system is non-existent and PWD roads are full of potholes. More than Rs. 3000 crore has gone down the drain every year in the name of maintenance of PWD roads whose condition remain pathetic leading to massive traffic jams, accidents and water logging.”
 
All the major roads of Delhi are full of potholes and the monsoon recently exposed the tall claims made by the Congress government. The Chief Minister ironically was offering prayers to the rain god to resolve this problem which is actually the result of corruption and inefficiency.
 
The Delhi Jal Board, whose chairperson is the Chief Minister, fails to provide clean drinking water to nearly half of the city dwellers. There is 40% leakage of the piped drinking water indicating widespread mismanagement.
 
The power sector is the classic example of mismanagement and corruption writ large under the Congress government. Delhi could have afforded a 25-30% less power tariff but the present government has stalled such moves by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission in collusion with the power discoms.

Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel today slammed the Delhi government for its inaction despite soaring prices of onions in the city while the vegetables are vanishing from common man’s plates. He said that the advice from Maharashtra Chief Minister to Delhi Chief Minister exposes the inefficiency of the Congress government.
 
The Maharashtra CM had advised Delhi CM to buy onions directly from Nasik to control prices in Delhi. But the onion prices continue to soar indicating no action has been initiated on ground.
 
Addressing party workers of the Outer Delhi district, South-West district and Keshavpuram district, Shri Goel said, “The party will take up the issue of onion crisis at booth level in all 14 BJP districts. The BJP will expose the inaction of Congress government on the issue of onion crisis and rising prices of essential commodities over the next few days.”
 
Shri Goel said, “The Congress government is doing nothing on the ground to bring down the prices of onions and other vegetables in Delhi. It is only paying lip service and taking cosmetic measures to pile up on common man’s woes. For several months people of Delhi have been suffering due to unprecedented increase in prices of onions and other vegetables in the city.”
 
Shri Goel said, “The Congress government was in deep slumber even though another state government suggested it a few days ago to purchase onions from Nashik and sell in Delhi to reduce prevailing prices. The government must explain why did it not act on its own earlier?”
 
The Congress seems to be in the business of window-dressing over the issue of rising prices. Earlier, it claimed to sell onions through government’s outlets, which vanished much before they were officially closed by the Congress government. Those invisible outlets benefited none among the masses.
 
Shri Goel further said, “The Congress government claimed that onions are sold through Safal outlets. But, for a population of over 1.67 crores in Delhi, there are only about 350 Safal outlets, which is grossly insufficient. It has been a common experience that whatever onions arrive at these stores, it vanishes within an hour or so and even the quality of onions is bad."
 
Moreover, even the Safal outlets are selling onions at a price around Rs. 65-70 a kg, which is unaffordable for common man in Delhi. Other vegetables are also in the high pricing zone with none of the regular vegetables available below Rs. 50 a kg in retail markets in Delhi. Even potatoes are selling around Rs. 40 a kg. The festival season is around and the prices of these vegetable are not showing any trend of decline and the Congress government is completely insensitive.