In a turn of events, Wakeel Hassan, the rat-hole miner who lost his house in a recent demolition drive, has declined yet another housing offer, this time in Dilshad Garden. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Hassan revealed that four government officers, including an SDM, visited him on Friday night with an offer of accommodation in Dilshad Garden.
However, he refused the offer, citing the temporary nature of the arrangement and the absence of a written agreement. Hassan pointed out that the house in question belonged to an NGO.
Following the demolition, officials from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) proposed that Hassan relocate to an Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) flat in Narela, located far from Khajoori Khas in northeast Delhi. Hassan rejected this offer, expressing concerns about the distance and safety of the new location.
When questioned about rejecting the Dilshad Garden offer, given its proximity to Khajoori Khas, Hassan emphasized that the cost of his demolished house exceeded Rs 1 crore. He insisted that any compensation from the government should match the value of his property.
Hassan, who has been residing in Khajoori Khas for several years, lost his home in a DDA demolition drive on Wednesday. Since then, he, along with his wife and two children, has been living on a footpath, protesting against the demolition.
Amidst the rain in Delhi on Saturday, Hassan recorded a video appealing for support, highlighting that his belongings were exposed to the elements. He vowed to continue his demonstration until a satisfactory solution is provided by the government.
Hassan shared that he had purchased the plot for Rs 33 lakh in 2012-13, investing an additional Rs 8 lakh to construct rooms. He claimed that the cost of his house had surged to over Rs 1 crore. Veer Dev Kaushik, a resident of Khajoori Khas, supported Hassan's claims, alleging corruption among DDA officials who, according to Kaushik, harassed Hassan for additional payments, leading to the demolition.
Notably, Hassan was part of the miner team that successfully rescued 41 construction workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in November last year.
Hassan recounted that DDA officials initially assured him of housing, but he rejected the verbal assurance. Later, he demanded the reconstruction of his house on the original site and threatened a hunger strike if his demands were not met.
Follow us
