New Delhi: Delhi BJP will soon approach Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to lift the ban on e-rickshaws, fearing that the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's decision may prompt lakhs of e-ricksahw drivers to vote against the party in the upcoming Delhi election.
Party has also urged Jung and Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi to provide relief to the battery-operated drivers and owners.
Delhi government on Thursday banned the plying and parking of e-rickshaws on 236 thoroughfares, including 77 roads in New Delhi alone like Barakhamba Road, Tilak Marg, Rajpath, Ashoka Road, Tughlak Road, Shahjahan Road, Rafi Marg, Feroz Shah Road and others.
"In government's decision, all important roads have been put under restrictions for the plying of e-rickshaws, which is not unjustified. Are they supposed to ply their vehicles in colonies ? How can they be able to earn their livelihood on limited routes?"
"Party is very serious over the issue and has decided to approach Union Transport Minister Gadkari in the next two or three days to remove this ban," said a senior party leader.
According to the party leaders, BJP had made a lot of efforts to regularise e-rickshaws ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, but LG's move may spoil the party's strategy.
"The Centre had given respite to e-rickshaws drivers by notifying Central Motor Vehicles (Sixteenth Amendment) Rules, 2014, which paves way for plying of "special purpose battery operated vehicles.
"Party's Delhi unit had also made a lot of effort to garner support of e-rickshaws which may benefit us in elections..so we will not sit silent on the issue," he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP has urged Union Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu to give relaxation to 3 lakh properties in slums and unauthorised colonies, which came into being after February, 2007.
The Centre recently extended the validity of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2011 till December 2017, giving relaxations to properties in unauthorised colonies which came into being before February 7, 2007.
"It is necessary that the government should provide protection to all the constructions made up to December, 2014 and immediately frame building construction laws in Delhi and regularize all the unauthorized colonies," another BJP leader said.
