At a mahapanchayat organised in Northwest Delhi’s Mongolpuri Kalan, voters across Delhi’s 360 villages Sunday decided to vote for whichever party resolves their problems in the Assembly polls.
Only two months ago, the group, which claims to have the support of “all 360 villages and 36 biradaris (communities)” of Delhi, had decided to boycott the elections slated for February. At that time, it had hoped that the decision to boycott would attract political attention to the issues facing the rural belt. However, in the words of Chaudhury Surender Solanki, head of Palam-360, the organiser of Sunday’s event, “Usse kisi neta ke kaan par joo na rengi (No leader paid any attention)”.
At the mahapanchayat, leaders representing some villages suggested that contesting elections is the only way to get their issues resolved. “At least one elected representative from our side should reach the centre of politics,” said Chaudhury Yogesh, representing Sarai Kale Khan.
Siddharth from Hauz Khas Village narrated how when he couldn’t reach the authorities to resolve an issue in his area, Solanki sprung into action and, within a week, had the sub-divisional magistrate and the district magistrate take action.
“Some people have been trying to create divisions by telling me ‘Solanki is trying to get a ticket from a party’. If that happens, it will be very good. Someone will be speaking for us in the Vidhan Sabha,” Siddharth said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Solanki, however, categorically denied that he will be fighting elections.
The mahapanchayat discussed issues like mutation of land, lack of property ownership rights as well as civic amenities, and improper usage of village land.
Jai Prakash from Bawana said that land-related issues are troubling his village. “Mutation of land has not been taking place for a long time and thus, people are not getting ownership rights of their properties after the deaths of their ancestors. Also, while the government buys land from us at a very low price, it does not provide us alternative land, as promised.”
Ravinder Singh from Lado Sarai complained that his village lacked educational and medical facilities, as well as playgrounds and stadiums, which can divert the attention of the youth from addiction. “Getting a water and electricity connection is such a huge struggle. Our roads, made with cheap material, are filled with potholes and no repairs take place in our areas,” he added.
The mahapanchayat ended with the declaration: “Jo gaon dehat ki baat karega, vahi Dilli pe raaj karega (Whoever talks about the villages, will get to rule Delhi)”.
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