Arvind Kejriwal doubts Modi government over authorizing colonies in Delhi

New Delhi : Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is delighted with a Centre's decision of agreeing to give ownership rights to 40 lakh people living in unauthorized colonies in the national capital. Addressing a press conference soon after the decision, he said, "This has been an old demand of the people of Delhi. We welcome this decision and I would like to thank Central govt on behalf of the people."

But, then he also raised doubts of it being a poll gimmick by the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of elections. “We will know this is for real, only if people will get their registry done. Otherwise, it would become another poll gimmick ahead of the elections,” he added.

Currently, Delhi has around 1797 unauthorised colonies. The timing of the ‘historic’ decision is significant as the move comes ahead of the Assembly polls in the national capital,  scheduled for early next year.

“We had submitted a proposal to the Centre on July 24 on regularization of unauthorised colonies. The Centre today accepted our proposal. Our government invested 6000 crores to bring changes in these colonies”, CM Kejriwal added further.

Gautam Gambhir on the other hand took a pot shot at Arvind Kejriwal for taking the credit. He tweeted, “They promise, we deliver! 40 lakh people living in around 1,700 unauthorised colonies to get ownership rights thanks to @narendramodi ji led Central Government! This Diwali will be special for Delhi!”

In July, the Delhi government proposed a set of parameters to regularise the 1,797 colonies, which include charging one per cent cost of circle rate of land for up to 200 square metre plot from occupants besides a nominal penalty.