SC-ST wing of AAP launched by Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party launched its SC/ST wing on Wednesday to mobilise support of the voters.

“Last time, the party had won 9 out of 12 reserved constituencies in Delhi. The SC/ST (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) community had trusted the one year old party,” AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, while addressing the launch of the new frontal organisation.   

The former chief minister said, if reelected, his party will regularise jobs of 1.5-2 lakh contractual government employees, many of whom belong to the marginalised communities.

Accusing the Congress of neglecting the Dalit community, he said that within a month of forming government, the AAP had proposed that all the temporary muster roll workers, who have worked for 500 days, will be considered for regular employment with NDMC.

“Earlier the entire SC/ST community used to vote for the Congress,” he said, claiming that Congress has yielded its ‘vote-bank’ to the AAP.

He slammed the BJP-controlled MCD for filling up vacancies on a contractual basis.
Kejriwal accused that the BJP has failed to take the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan beyond symbolism. He said that safai karamcharis are working in inhuman conditions.

“Bharat ko swacch, safai karamchari karenge (Only sanitation workers will Clean India). Until they are given an equal status, we can’t ensure a clean India,” he said at the launch of the SC/ST wing.

During the launch event, several Dalit leaders joined the AAP ranks. Among those who joined are BSP Delhi state unit treasurer Ho Ram and MCD safai karamchari union leader Ashok Kumar Anjana. Chaudhary Itwari Lal, who was associated with his Jan Chetna Manch and was a close aid of former Prime Minister VP Singh, also joined the party.

Former AAP MLA from Kondli, Manoj Kumar will head party’s SC/ST wing of Delhi.