Summary:
New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Resident Welfare Associations in Delhi appeared unimpressed with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal"s announcement of according "mini councillor" status to them if the AAP wins the civic polls, claiming it looks like a "hollow promise".
They said if the promise is fulfilled, it would prove beneficial for the people but past experience does not evoke much confidence.
At a press conference just a few days ahead of the civic polls, Kejriwal on Tuesday said if the AAP comes to power in the MCD, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) will be "empowered" and granted the status of "mini councillors".
He said the idea behind this vision is to "make people the owners of Delhi ("janta ko Dilli ka malik banana hai")".
Atul Goyal, the president of the United RWAs Joint Action (URJA), a confederation of 2,500 RWAs in Delhi, said, "There is a big difference between what you claim and what you do.
We have seen this in the past as well.
"RWAs are neutral bodies.
We don"t take sides in elections.
Just days ahead of the election you are trying to lure us.
We are influencers, we don"t take sides.
But such announcements just before the elections are telling," he told PTI over phone.
Goyal said there are thousands of RWAs in the city and if the AAP government is serious about the promise they should bring an RWA Act.