Rs 1,000-crore scandal in Kathputli land deal, says AAP

Alleging that the Kathputli colony scam was similar to the coal and 2G scam, Khetan said, “Land owned by the DDA in Kathputli Colony worth more than Rs 1,000 crore was given to private builders for just Rs 6 crore… This deal between DDA and builders was initiated during Ajay Maken’s term as the Union Development Minister in 2009. The documents were signed in the next term.”

On the basis of DDA audit reports accessed by the party through RTIs filed by an artist group, he alleged that DDA land in Kathputli Colony worth Rs 1,000 crore was sold to a private builder below market value.

Khetan said he would be spending the night in Kathputli Colony and challenged Ajay Maken to “an open debate” in front of the residents of the area on the issue.

“I will spend the night at Kathputli colony. I invite Ajay Maken to spend the night there to see the problems of the people. The area faces shortage of water and sewage problems,” he said.

He also questioned the intentions of the Congress on the issues of jhuggi-jhopri dwellers. “The jhuggi-jhopri residents, in the Assembly elections (in Delhi), supported the AAP. Congress in its manifesto has said they will rehabilitate the slumdwellers. Is the Congress turning into a jhuggi-jhopri todo (demolition) party?” he said.

6 nominations withdrawn

New Delhi: A total of six candidates withdrew their candidature on Wednesday, the Delhi chief electoral officer said. The majority of these are independent candidates. Two independent candidates withdrew from South Delhi, apart from one each from Northeast, East and Northwest Delhi. A candidate from Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party withdrew his nomination from Chandni Chowk, bringing the total number of candidates contesting elections from Delhi to 150.

Nominations of 156 candidates were found to be valid till Tuesday, as against 166 in 2009.

“The names of candidates who have withdrawn their candidature are Bashiruddin from Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party (Chandni Chowk), independent candidates Nafe Singh Rajput (Northeast Delhi), Rubina Saify (East Delhi), Shakti Ranjan Mondal (Northwest Delhi) and Sanjay and Ashok Kumar Kapil (both from South Delhi),’’ an official said.
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