Bansuri Swaraj strikes discordant notes on campaign trails
Image credit Bhawna Malik
Bansuri Swaraj fails o connect with people’s issues
By Bhawna Malik
New Delhi, May 6: Temples, Gurudwaras, and parks come out as prominent places for electoral campaigns. Bansuri Sawraj, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from the New Delhi parliamentary constituency began her campaign with regular visits to temples and also meeting the morning walkers at various parks.
She visits parks and temples of New Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, some south Delhi parks too. Slogan of ‘Modi ka Parivar’ accompanies her.
The first time Lok Sabha contestant and daughter of the BJP leader Sushma Sawraj has replaced Meenakshi Lekhi, the former MP from New Delhi. No doubt, the New Delhi seat has always been dominated by the BJP, but the AAP leader Somnath Bharti is giving her a stiff competition.
Her New Rajinder Nagar, Nehru Park, campaigns were very specific as she spelt out her vision for the people. Ayushman Bharat tops her agenda – a scheme that would benefit the seniors, people above the age of 70 years would get free treatment up to ₹five lakhs.
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The population of the seniors is on the rise and they have huge health concerns and this scheme is connecting with the elders.
Next comes the promise to strengthen and spend her Members of Parliament, local Areas Development Fund (MPLAD) in discussions and consultations with the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). The MPLAD fund has an amount of ₹5 crores annually.
It seems more or less on the lines of ‘Bhagidaari’, an initiative of Shiela Dikshit, the former Chief Mister of Delhi. People’s participation is required for a healthy democracy and RWAs can play a great role in pointing out the key areas where funds are required.
Secondly, if elected, the young Swaraj vows to work for the de-sealing of shops in the area. Shankar Road market in New Rajinder Nagar faces this issue as some of the top floors of the shops have been sealed for quite some time due to the residential and/ or professional use only.
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She is yet to visit markets to connect with the shopkeepers. If she is sure to resolve the issue (de-sealing) then what stopped Meenakshi Lekhi from doing it, asks several of the shopkeepers in the area.
Bansuri Sawraj completely missed out the issue of water crises looming large in New and Old Rajinder Nagar, Double Story, and some adjoining areas.
‘Roti, Kapda aur Makan’ along with water crisis are topping the people’s concerns on the campaign trails. With scorching heat and the government issuing advisory for the prevention from the heat strokes, water scarcity issue is missing from the electoral list of the candidates.
The water crisis has been going on for some time. In the year 2022, the residents of New/Old Rajinder Nagar held a protest shouting slogans outside the Delhi Jal Board Office in Old Rajinder Nagar.
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The people are angry against the DJB and the unending tentacles of the tanker and bottled water mafia. Though New Rajinder Nagar is a posh area with affluent residents, it still has a sizable number of salaried and/ or pensioner and single women too who might not be able to afford the tanker prices.
With high rise buildings, guest houses and paying guests, the need for resources has increased. The unclean water of Yamuna despite Delhi government introducing various action plans and having international collaborations, forces the residents to opt for the bottled water.
The people are lamenting that Bansuri Swaraj has missed out to address the security concern of the residents. New Rajinder Nagar in particular has had incidents of chain snatching, car thefts, water motors and even pets were stolen, also vacant residential properties were looted.
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