The controversial Delhi minister Somnath Bharti of aam admi party is appeared to be in ‘damage-control’ mode on eve of Republic Day , when he intended to clarify by saying that while his ‘intentions are always right, he is taken otherwise’.
Bharti said,"I am not aware of procedures. If I would have known them, I would not have made these alleged mistakes," and added,"I am doing things for you (common man). I went on raid at late night, risking my life," .
Criticising Delhi police, he said, "This is the job of police, but I personally went there. I am doing this because of concerns of people,who have elected me as their representative.He admitted, "I am new to this system, so I may commit mistakes, but someone should come forward and guide me. This system has been formed by common people, so I would try my best to give them a corruption-free system," .
INDIA HONEST understands that though Bharati, one part of AAP fast track drama, has accepted his fault and willing to amend his ways, but the important question is whether the AAP leadership, which has reaped such a big fruit of Delhi government so fast, only through street agitation and through crude form of dissenting, will change its course so near to the central election ? The feeling among the core leadership is, to remain in media limelight somehow till election, to gain maximum or substantial lead in the election,while assuming that some members may have to be sacrificed in this risky journey to power grabbing.
IH is reproducing the survey report of Pritha Chaterjee and others of the Khirki Extension, that comes out to be the cosmopolitan face of an developed international city, Delhi. It is to be judged by the readers with an eye on our views, do we want to merge with international communities in the 21st century or want to remain isolated ? Both have many pros and cons, ifs and buts, likings and dislikings and virtues/benefits and evils of the system. Can we cop with all this and merge ? Few excerpts of the report :
{ In a basement on a rainy afternoon, three students from Congo in their 20s are trying out their musical instruments. They have formed a choir for prayer meetings, where young African professionals and students gather thrice a week. The keyboard, drums and guitars are arranged on a decorated platform, while chairs line a red carpet. “We have turned this basement into a church,” says John Kahilu, a 24-year-old student. “There is no image of god here, we find him through our music, and these are the most unconventional prayer songs you will hear.” Their landlord of three years, who lives on the floor above, is “not sure” what the basement is used for, but loves the music that travels through closed doors. Making chapatis for lunch, she hums along.
A block away, a group of women models has just returned home from a photo shoot. They drop down exhausted on couches, dabbing their eyes with make-up removers, while their house help prepares coffee, amid the post-shoot chatter of “fussy photographers” and “haughty designers”. Between the ages of 18 and 32, they are Czechoslovakians who have been staying at Khirki Extension for eight months now. With three modelling agencies in the neighbourhood, the models have had a packed few months. Conversation drifts to how it has been ages since they visited their favourite haunt in Khirki, Baba ka Dhaba, for adrak ki chai (ginger tea).
A group of young kids, from a slum colony called the Jagdamba area, behind Apeejay School, sit in rapt attention in class as their teacher takes them through three-and four-letter words. This is Jack Todd’s second stint as a teacher in Delhi, and Khirki Extension has been his home both times. A volunteer for the NGO Swechha, Todd lives in R Block. “I feel safer in Khirki than I do in parts of south London… and that’s something,” he says.
A 28-year-old woman — a “Partition Punjabi”, she calls herself — has just got her children home from school, and is rushing them in for a bath. It’s weekend, so their “Daddy” will join them for lunch, she says shyly. Their neighbours, a couple who study in JNU, are contemplating marriage after a year of living together. As they quarrel over what to order for lunch, the Beatles song Let It Be drifts in through a window. }
IH wishes the wise readers/people to continue reading this series on the "Khirki Extension" and give their opinion for better understanding .