Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit Pulls a Raj Thackeray
New Delhi: May 9, 2007
Yet another career politician who thinks an Indian state is a personal property of certain chosen ones created an outcry when she openly blamed people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for settling down in the capital city and causing road congestions and contributing to other ills of New Delhi.
Sheila Dikshit, the Congress leader and Delhi Chief Minister, while laying a foundation stone of a new flyover in south Delhi on Wednesday, said she wished there was a way to stop migration from other states particularly Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Ironically, Dikshit herself is originally from UP though now she considers herself as a native Delhi'ite and is ashamed of admitting that she is from UP, people who have known her for a long time, said.
Dikshit's remarks immediately drew widespread criticism from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders in Bihar.
"Her statement is irresponsible and unwarranted. If she is so concerned about Delhi population, she should first pack her own stuff and proceed to Uttar Pradesh before lecturing other people on migration," BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said.
RJD leader Ram Kripal Yadav also shot back at the Delhi Chief Minister saying Dikshit owed an apology to the people of Bihar and UP. "She can do (apologize) on her own or we will force her to do so," and angry Yadav said.
Surendra Singh, the president of the Veer Kunwar Singh Memorial Services and Research Center in Patna, decried Dixit's statement as 'unfortunate' and 'divisive'.
"Everyone knows how Bihar is progressing under the able leadership of Nitish Kumar. Making an irresponsible statement like this only proves that the Congress has lost its public support and therefore, was making comments to stir up communal and regional unrest," said Singh.
Bihar Pradesh Janata Dal (U) Students' wing president Sushil Narayan Tiwari and general secretary Rakesh Kumar Yadav also condemned the Delhi CM for trying to create rift between people from different regions. "Her statements are dangerous for the nation and she must offer unconditional apologies to the people of Bihar and UP," Tiwari said.
In a damage control move, Dikshit denied having made any disparaging remarks against the people of UP or Bihar. "BJP is simply playing politics and is making a non-issue an issue," she said.
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