Withdraw police, stop eviction at Kathputli Colony: CPI(M)

Attacking DDA and the police for "forcibly" evicting the dwellers of Kathputli Colony in West Delhi, CPI(M) today asked the authorities to call off the eviction drive and withdraw security personnel deployed there.
A CPI(M) delegation led by Politburo member Brinda Karat said the shifting of the dwellers to a transit camp in Anand Parbat area of Central Delhi, about two kilometres away, should require and have the consent of the residents.
She expressed concerns over the residents being "forced" to abandon their homes in the middle of this winter season.
The party said proper civic facilities be ensured at the camp.

"Heavy police presence is there in this colony for the past 10 days and people are being forced to sign on parchis (slips) stating their agreement to shift to the transit camp," it claimed.
"That residents are being forced to abandon their homes in the middle of winter has made matters worse," the party said in a statement.

Its Delhi unit said the land in the colony was meant for "mixed use" as per an agreement signed between the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and a private developer.
As per this agreement, 40 per cent of the area devolves to the private developer for commercial use, while the remaining 60 per cent is for the In-situ development of the colony.

"The residents were not consulted before this agreement was signed. They are justly demanding that nobody should be forced to leave their homes against their wishes and that they should have a say in deciding the terms and conditions of their In-situ rehabilitation," the statement reads.
A Karat-led delegation today visited the area.