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Khurana vows to fight for Delhi

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana has vowed to fight for rights of Delhiites even if it meant taking up cudgels against his own government at the Centre.

He told a gathering of supporters at Vithalbhai Patel House in Delhi that his new outfit, the Delhi Maha Sangh, was non-political.

"Floating the organisation does not mean that I am revolting against the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, particularly Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He is my idol and I worship him," said Khurana.

Khurana accused his detractors of trying to paint him as someone revolting against the party leadership. He said they alleged that his organisation would be converted into a political outfit before the next general elections.

"In 40 years of my political career, Delhiites have never let me down, and I will not let them down as well. When chief minister, I tried my best to solve people's problems. I have dedicated my life to the service of Delhi," Khurana stated.

He demanded that Delhi be given the status of a full-fledged state. "I am not raising any new demands. These have been listed in the BJP manifesto. Can you imagine a state without the police under it? The chief minister has no jurisdiction over land. Can you beat that?"

He attacked Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Urban Development Minister Jagmohan. "When I took up the cause of Delhi's traders, I was told that I should not do it. When I took up another cause of the Delhi people relating to a hike in bus fares, I was asked not to follow it up. How can I do this? I cannot forget Delhiites. I owe them a lot. Now it is my turn to return that debt," he declared.

He criticised Jagmohan for sending in bulldozers to raze houses. "When I was chief minister, I had appointed a committee, headed by Vijay Kumar Malhotra, that permitted addition of another storey to existing structures. Its findings were notified. Now, how can one send in bulldozers to bring down those structures? I will not let injustice to be done,'' he promised.

Former minister in the Khurana government Harsharan Singh Balli announced that he would go on an indefinite hunger strike from July 24 if Delhi's demands are not met. "Khurana is not a spent-force and let those in authority not make a mistake about it," said Balli.

Malhotra, an associate of Khurana, was conspicuous by his absence. Other members of Parliament from Delhi also did not join Khurana in the launch of his sangh.

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