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Team Kejriwal blocks media from secretariat

(TOI photo)

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'Sabka CM' Kejriwal promises a new Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Arvind Kejriwal government 's order on Monday against any demolition in Delhi is in tune with the recently extended central legislation, Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act 2014, which protects all unauthorized colonies , unauthorized constructions and slums that have come up to June 2014 till 2017.The decision comes in the backdrop of the recent slum demolitions in Rangpuri Pahari and Wazirpur. The protest by a few jhuggi-dwellers who claimed their hutments were demolished in Shahdara by the police the day Kejriwal and his cabinet were being sworn in may have worked as the catalyst. The evicted people had demonstrated outside Kejriwal's Kaushambi residence on Sunday.The cabinet also set in motion the process to implement two key promises made by AAP - 50% reduction in power tariff by way of a subsidy and free water up to 20 kl for all consumers. The CM has directed the finance and power departments to immediately send their proposals for slashing the electricity tariff by 50% till the audit by Comptroller and Auditor General of the private power companies is completed.The cabinet also decided to recommend holding of the first session of the newly-elected Delhi assembly on February 23-24 for swearing in of new MLAs and election of the speaker/deputy speaker.The state government's decision to stop all demolitions sends out a clear message to lakhs of slum-dwellers and residents of unauthorized colonies who voted for AAP's pro-poor agenda. This is also seen as a ploy to send out a clear message not only to those agencies and departments which are under its purview but also to the ones completely under the Centre, like DDA and NDMC, that the state government would be keeping vigil and seeking explanation.This move may put the state government's relations with the Centre under strain as the directive has gone to DDA, NDMC and Delhi Police which are under the purview of the Central government. Though the three corporations are independent elected bodies, they are also under the purview of the director of the local bodies of the state government. The municipal corporations are also financially dependent on the state government to an extent. The order has also been sent to Delhi Jal Board, environment and forests department, revenue department etc.The first meeting of the Delhi cabinet, chaired by Kejriwal, was attended by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia , transport and development minister Gopal Rai, health and industry minister Satyendra Jain, law, justice and home minister Jitender Singh Tomar, food and supplies minister Asim Ahmed Khan and social welfare & women and child welfare minister Sandeep Kumar.