01-07-2025
AAP protests outside Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa's office for ‘insulting' slum dwellers
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Poorvanchali wing Monday staged a protest outside the office of Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa in Rajouri Garden, for allegedly calling those whose houses have been demolished as 'Rohingyas.'
On Sunday, the AAP launched a massive protest against the demolitions taking place in Delhi.
After the AAP's leaders and former ministers protested at Jantar Mantar Sunday, Sirsa told reporters, 'I want to tell Kejriwal ji that you can stand up for the Rohingya and Bangladeshi people as much as you want, but they will not be allowed to stay in the country under any circumstances. Arvind Kejriwal ji, if you have so much love and affection for them, then why don't you take them to your home and make them live with you?'
A day later, the AAP leaders reached outside the minister's office in Rajouri Garden, demanding a public apology, saying his remarks were an insult to the migrant community from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. 'Manjinder Singh Sirsa has insulted the Purvanchali community living in Delhi's jhuggis by calling them 'Bangladeshi-Rohingyas,' AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
Senior AAP leaders with roots in Bihar — MLA Sanjeev Jha and former MLA Rituraj Jha — were also present at the protest.
'The BJP is demolishing jhuggis across Delhi. These jhuggis are home to a large number of people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. On Sunday, many jhuggi residents had gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest. Instead of addressing their concerns, BJP Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa labelled them as Bangladeshis and Rohingyas,' Jha said.
'These are the same jhuggi residents with whom Sirsa and BJP leaders used to stay overnight during elections. They ate food with them, folded hands, and said, 'You are my mai-baap, vote for me and I will get your jhuggis regularised',' he added.
Jha said, 'There are 50 to 60 lakh Poorvanchalis living in Delhi's jhuggis and informal colonies. The BJP has insulted them all.'
The Delhi BJP spokesperson is yet to comment on the issue.
