Delhi Polls: Voters in Okhla Call for Govt Hospital, Schools and Removal of Garbage

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Sitting MLA Amanatullah Khan of AAP is locked in a fierce battle with Areeba Khan of Congress, Manish Chaudhry of the BJP, and Shifa-ur-Rahman of the AIMIM

Ground Report

Waquar Hasan | Clarion India

NEW DELHI – The ever-growing piles of garbage at different locations, the absence of a government hospital and an inadequate supply of drinking water are the major issues for the people of Okhla in southeast Delhi as voters get ready to vote in the national capital on 5 February.

Okhla is among the constituencies where Muslims account for over 40% of the population while the minority community makes up for over 12% in the capital city. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Amanatullah Khan won consecutive terms in 2015 and 2020 by a huge margin.

This time, Khan is locked in a fierce electoral battle with Areeba Khan of Congress, Manish Chaudhry of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Shifa-ur-Rahman of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Shifa-ur-Rahman is contesting the election from behind bars as he is languishing in jail for his alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots.

The residents Clarion India spoke to support the several welfare schemes of the Aam Aadmi Party government and hinted at backing Khan this time too. However, they want Khan to concentrate more on the core issues: cleanliness, employment opportunities, potable water, inflation and traffic jams.

“The biggest issue here is cleanliness. Ariba Khan (local councillor) has not done any work. Since her victory, she has not shown up. But she now wants to seek votes as an MLA. There is no issue bigger than cleanliness. Garbage should be removed,” said Enayat, who runs a shop in the Shaheen Bagh locality.

He asserted that if one walked around the area in any direction, he would find piles of garbage everywhere. “Be it the area around Shaheen Bagh police station, Rahmani Mosque, or Alshifa Hospital, one finds piles of garbage,” he said.

Enayat wants a government hospital, schools and community centres to be built in the area during the next five years. “One big issue is that there is no community centre in the area. For family functions, we have to travel to faraway places. And we have to spend a good amount of money. In several smaller areas, the government has built marriage halls. But here, there is no such facility in our vast constituency,” he said.

He roots for a third consecutive term for Khan.

A woman resident said she wants the roads and streets in good condition. “Inflation is skyrocketing. This is the biggest issue. People are very concerned about this menace,” she said.

Another resident sees the lack of a school for children in the area as the biggest issue. He also said garbage is another major area of concern. “In this locality, no work has been done. No progress, no development,” he said.

He also expressed concerns over the poor condition of the streets and lack of drinking water. He said: “The sitting MLA has done some work to improve the condition of the roads. But more needs to be done in this regard. Several road projects have been left mid-way. They ought to be completed soon.”

The constituency was a Congress bastion before the emergence of AAP on Delhi’s political horizon. From 1998 to 2013, Congress nominees were victorious; Parvez Hashmi of Congress won three consecutive terms in 1998, 2003 and 2008 and Asif Mohammed Khan won in 2013.  

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