"Slum dwellers have decided to support BJP": Vishnu Mittal slams AAP over 'poor slum conditions'

New Delhi [India], January 10 (ANI): Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Vishnu Mittal on Thursday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital for its failure to improve conditions in the city's slums and claimed that the slum dwellers have decided to support the BJP, citing poor living conditions and a lack of basic amenities under the AAP.
Vishnu Mittal, the BJP's convener for the 'Jhuggi Abhiyan' (Slum Campaign), announced that on January 11th, the 'pradhans' (leaders) of Delhi's slums will gather at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address them.
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Mittal highlighted a series of issues faced by residents of slums, accusing the AAP-led Delhi government of neglecting their needs.
"On 11th January, we called the 'pradhans' of the slums of Delhi at the JLN stadium. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be present at the event and will personally interact with them," Mittal said. He added that the BJP expects at least 3,000 slum leaders to attend the event.
Mittal went on to enumerate the hardships faced by Delhi's slum residents, citing issues such as lack of clean drinking water, exorbitant electricity bills, piles of uncollected garbage, and stray animals near mohalla clinics.
"Everyone is forced to buy bottled water for drinking, and there is no relief from high electricity bills. There are mounds of garbage in the streets, and even at the mohalla clinics, you can see animals roaming around. People can't even get their ration cards made, and unemployment is at an all-time high," he claimed.
According to Mittal, these problems have led the people of Delhi's slums to shift their allegiance towards the BJP. "On one hand, you have the BJP, which is building new flats for the people of Delhi. On the other, you have Arvind Kejriwal, who is busy building a 'sheesh mahal' for himself, completely ignoring the plight of the people," Mittal stated.
The BJP's outreach to slum leaders, with a focus on housing and basic services, is expected to intensify as Delhi heads into future elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to meet with leaders of slum clusters in Delhi on January 11 as part of an initiative to engage with slum voters ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
This will be Shah's first interaction with the heads of nearly 3,000 slum colonies across the city. The meeting will take place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.
In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a special initiative to connect with slum voters. As part of this, BJP leaders, including MPs and MLAs, have been staying overnight in slum areas to connect directly with the residents. The party's campaign, titled "Where There's a Slum, There's a House," is being promoted by the central government.
Over the past few months, several leaders from the Delhi BJP have been visiting slum dwellers to understand their issues. Around two dozen BJP leaders have been spending one night each week in these slum areas, trying to connect with the people and learn about their concerns.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 1,675 flats in Ashok Vihar, Delhi, for slum dwellers. Delhi has around 675 slum clusters, with 18-20 per cent of them located in the eastern and northeastern parliamentary constituencies.
These areas have consistently supported the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the last two Assembly elections. However, the BJP is making a concerted effort to win over these voters in the upcoming elections. As part of its slum development campaign, the BJP is focusing on providing better housing and infrastructure.
The Delhi Assembly elections for 2025 are scheduled for February 5, with the counting of votes taking place on February 8. The Election Commission announced the dates on January 7. The current term of the 70-member Delhi Assembly will end on February 23. (ANI)