While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is staring at a possible split owing to a political storm triggered by expulsion of some of its founding members, the capital is besieged because of complete breakdown of government machinery that occupied power on February 14. Instead of addressing the real issues, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is locked in a turf war at four fronts—the Central Government, Municipal Corporations, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and power distribution companies. The tussle led to non-payment of wages for one lakh corporation employees who have now called flash strikes and dumping garbage on the streets. If the stink was not enough, four ambitious projects to decongest the city have been put on the backburner.
TALL PROMISES, BUT NO REVENUE
Forget about the tall promises like providing concrete houses to slum-dwellers, regularisation of temporary employees, uninterrupted power and water supply, 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras, marshals in buses for women security that helped AAP to register a historic win last month, the state government is training its gun on the Centre for all major crises, water, power and infrastructural projects or lack of funds.
After the state government realised that total revenue collection this year has declined by Rs 4,500 crore, Kejriwal attacked the Centre alleging that only meagre funds are being given by the Modi government. During the election campaign, the AAP had promised to construct 20 new colleges, two lakh public toilets, 30,000 beds in hospitals and 47 fast-track courts. Now since the delivery is a distant dream, the Kejriwal government started targeting DDA.
Kejriwal said DDA has earned Rs 24,000 crore from selling flats on the lands which were acquired by the state government and DDA. The DDA should not charge money from the state while giving land to it.
Portmanteau of Problems
