Summary:
Dehradun: BJP state chief Ajay Bhatt has admitted that the ongoing demolition drive in Dehradun could affect the party and its prospects in the upcoming civic body polls scheduled to be held in September.Bhatt said a discussion regarding the anti-encroachment drive ordered by Uttarakhand high court was held in the party’s recent executive meeting at Kashipur. Resident Deepak Negi, who has a shop near DAV College, said, “The drive has hit everyone in the city and no BJP leaders came to help the shopkeepers or house owners. No one is going to forget this during the civic poll.” After the high court order of razing encroachments, the district administration and MDDA demolished over 1,600 structures from every nook and cranny of the city.The BJP camp is worried about a negative perception being generated that the demolition drive was being carried out by the ruling party. “The delay in approaching the supreme court and failing to convince the high court about the hardships to be faced by thousands of people and the fierce monsoon, clearly shows the state government in poor light,” he said.He added that the approach lacked any planning and overlooked the plight of thousands of people.The saffron camp’s fear is not baseless as public sentiments after the drive has not been encouraging..