They may already have plenty of perquisites but that doesn't stop Delhi's legislators belonging to the ruling Congress party from hankering for more. They have their eyes firmly set on the luxurious apartments being readied at the Commonwealth Games Village near Akshardham temple, and are demanding that they be allotted flats on a priority basis - that too at a special price.
Not surprisingly, the demand raised by Matia Mahal MLA Shoaib Iqbal on the floor of the House was enthusiastically supported by all Congress MLAs. While public opinion may not be quite as supportive, chief minister Sheila Dikshit chose to pass the buck. "If you all want this then either bring a resolution or put out your demand and I will forward it to the concerned authorities. I have no role in the matter but your sentiments can be made known to those concerned with the allotments," she said.
Cutting across party lines, BJP MLAs are also supporting the move. It has been proved time and again by Indian politicians that they may be severely against each other on issues of national interest, many a times only to prove the literal meaning of opposition party, but on topics which benefit them all, they all are brothers and sisters(even sweeter than real ones).
On Thursday, Iqbal pointed out that luxurious flats were being created in the Games Village which will be left vacant once the players leave. "If private companies can buy these flats, then why can't the government buy these flats and give them to us. We don't have houses and the government must do something about it," he said.
Not surprisingly, the demand raised by Matia Mahal MLA Shoaib Iqbal on the floor of the House was enthusiastically supported by all Congress MLAs. While public opinion may not be quite as supportive, chief minister Sheila Dikshit chose to pass the buck. "If you all want this then either bring a resolution or put out your demand and I will forward it to the concerned authorities. I have no role in the matter but your sentiments can be made known to those concerned with the allotments," she said.
Cutting across party lines, BJP MLAs are also supporting the move. It has been proved time and again by Indian politicians that they may be severely against each other on issues of national interest, many a times only to prove the literal meaning of opposition party, but on topics which benefit them all, they all are brothers and sisters(even sweeter than real ones).
On Thursday, Iqbal pointed out that luxurious flats were being created in the Games Village which will be left vacant once the players leave. "If private companies can buy these flats, then why can't the government buy these flats and give them to us. We don't have houses and the government must do something about it," he said.
There are 325 luxury and super luxury flats in the village to be used by the athletes and officials during games, costing around Rs.2 Crores each. If DDA auction these flats, it can easily get Rs. 1400-1600 Crores, which can be spent more wisely for the common masses. But the MLAs want these at the cost price. It is not that these wealthy politicians don't have houses to live in or something. They just want more luxury flats at throw away prices.
Its a shame that even before we have successfully or failingly hosted the games, the politicians are eyeing the structures which will be the legacy of the games. And for themselves. The Delhi Government is burdening us all with increasing prices saying that they need funds but it can openly throw away property at cheap prices to its MLAs.
Shameful but maybe it will happen. For more info about our greedy politicians in Delhi, check out HT.
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