Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed deep anguish over the demolition of 500 slums by the Railways, leading to the death of one child.
Taking to twitter, an angry Kejriwal said that ‘God will never forgive’ the culprits for their inhuman act of rendering hundreds of people homeless in ‘this freezing cold.’
इतनी सर्दी में आज रेल्वे वालों ने 500 झुग्गियाँ तोड़ दी। एक बच्चे की मौत हो गए। भगवान उन्हें कभी माफ़ नहीं करेगा।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015
इतनी सर्दी में आज रेल्वे वालों ने 500 झुग्गियाँ तोड़ दी। एक बच्चे की मौत हो गए। भगवान उन्हें कभी माफ़ नहीं करेगा।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015
The Delhi CM also said that he had spoken to the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who had expressed ignorance over this ‘inhuman act’ by the Railways.
Spoke to Railway minister Sh Suresh Prabhu also just now. He said he was not aware of this operation. He was also shocked.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015
The Railways with the help of 500-700 police personnel had arrived at the slum area along the railway lines near Shakur basti railway station on Saturday before forcibly demolishing their dwellings. Incidentally, Saturday was also described the coldest day in Delhi since the onset of this winter.
The affected families are being forced to spend their night on the nearby roads.
A visibly exasperated Kejriwal told www.jantakareporter.com that he was on his way to visit the affected families. A senior minister in his cabinet, Satyendar Jain, had already arrived at the spot and was reportedly busy coordinating the efforts to provide them the required help.
Kejriwal reached the affected site at around 1.30 AM and met those who had been rendered homeless.
After meeting the families, the Delhi CM announced that he had suspended two SDMs and one SE for dereliction of duty.
He said, ” Coming back from the demolition site. Heart rending scenes. How cud our own countrymen do this to our poorest fellow countrymen. Suspended 2 SDMs n one SE for not providing relief. Ordered officers to provide blankets now and food from morning.”
Jain said, “What a time they have chosen for this drive? The police was merciless and cruel while demolishing their dwellings. One child is dead, many have sustained injuries. We don’t know how many of them will survive this biting cold. This has happened despite the government’s order that no slums will be demolished till December 2017. So what was this national emergency that they needed to be rendered homeless today?”
Meanwhile, Kejriwal has also announced the suspension of the SDM for dereliction of duty because,according to him, the officer had failed to provide shelter and food to the families despite specific order from the chief minister.
वहाँ के SDM को उन लोगों के लिए खाने और रहने का इंतज़ाम करने के लिए बोला था। उन्होंने भी कोई इंतज़ाम नहीं किया। SDM को suspend कर रहे हैं(1/2
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015
सभी officers को अभी मौक़े पर पहुँच कर इंतज़ाम करने को कहा है। मैं ख़ुद भी अभी वहीं जा रहा हूँ(2/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015
Kejriwal government had recently launched a mobile application to rescue homeless persons in the capital. Within a week of this app being launched, the teams had rescued close to 100 people.