THE Aam Aadmi Party leaders have targeted Sheila Dikshit, a veteran of the Congress on whose support depends their government. More pragmatic politicians in such a situation would have kept quiet. The AAP leaders, however, went public with their demand for "strict action" against Sheila Dikshit. As chief minister of Delhi, she issued provisional regularisation certificates to about 1,200 illegal colonies with an eye on the assembly elections in 2008. No infrastructure was made available in the colonies. Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin, acting on a BJP complaint, indicted Sheila for various illegalities in November 2013. She is also in trouble for misspending public money on advertisements. AAP has kept its promise of taking on whoever is found on the wrong side of the law. Now action on the CWG scam is eagerly awaited
All this may sound a little surprising or disconcerting to those in Punjab and Haryana where it is common for the chief ministers to regularise illegal colonies without anyone even raising an eyebrow. No one complains about unplanned, bewildering growth of cities and towns. And the Lokayuktas are hardly approached against the powerful politicians violating the basic tenets of town planning. Opposition leaders do not object to voters acquiring cheaper, even if illegal, roofs over their head. Builders make money and buy politicians' support and silence. It is a win-win situation for all.
The price of haphazard urban growth is paid during the rainy season when the absence of sewerage or municipal water supply is felt acutely and then angry residents cry for the basic amenities. Under pressure, the cash-strapped municipalities do patch work and over time people learn to live with the conditions they are in. The Supreme Court's guidelines to regulate the chaotic growth of housing colonies remain unimplemented. Likewise, the use of public money to project political leaders through the media is hardly considered objectionable here. No matter how much development work a political leader may carry out, he cannot break the law and get away with it. Sheila Dikshit is learning it the hard way.
Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com
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