The Hindu : New Delhi News : Seeking power for the people through self-rule

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Seeking power for the people through self-rule

Special Correspondent

‘Mohalla Sabhas’ sought for public empowerment

NEW DELHI: A campaign to demand “swaraj” or self-rule was launched by Swaraj Abhiyan in the Capital on Saturday.

As part of the movement, a large number of people from different parts of Delhi went to the national headquarters of the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) seeking power for the people.

Nearly a dozen activists, including civil rights crusader Arvind Kejriwal, were detained by the Tughlak Road police when the group reached the Congress headquarters. After being detained for about two hours, they were released.

During the campaign, the Swaraj Abhiyan activists said the Central Government had in 2008 sent a Nagar Raj Bill to all the State governments which sought to create “mohalla sabhas” in urban areas but did not give any power to them.

After extensive consultations with various people and experts on this issue, a revised draft of the Bill has been finalised by Swaraj Abhiyan seeking to give complete control over local affairs of an area to “mohalla sabhas”.

For Delhi, the campaigners said, this Bill needs to be passed by Parliament. The campaigners are urging the political parties to support this Bill in Parliament. As part of the endeavour, the activists have submitted copies of the draft Bill to various parties.

The Abhiyan leaders said what is striking about the campaign is that under it people are not seeking help to redress their problems. Rather, they are seeking power for themselves to be able to solve their problems.

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