Disgusting Image Of India

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http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Human-Rights-Campaigners-Say-Slum-Dwellers-Swept-Off-Delhi-Streets-For-Commonwealth-Games/Article/201009415748134?lpos=World_News_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_9&lid=ARTICLE_15748134_Human_Rights_Campaigners_Say_Slum_Dwellers_Swept_Off_Delhi_Streets_For_Commonwealth_Games

'Beggars Swept Off Delhi Streets For Games'

Ashish Joshi, Sky News correspondent, Delhi

Human rights campaigners have accused the Indian government of sweeping slum dwellers and beggars off Delhi's streets in an effort to "beautify" the city.

The eyes of the world are on Delhi as it gears up to host the Commonwealth Games and activists fear poor people are being forced to leave because they send out the wrong image.

Shanty towns across the city have been razed to the ground. Some are deemed too close to venues while others have been demolished to make way for car parks and road improvement schemes.

Shivani Chaudry from the Housing And Land Rights Network said: "Mega events like the Commonwealth Games act as powerful symbols for city's vying for the global tag.

"But to host these events cities require extensive stretches of land in prime locations. Clearing these causes significant displacement of poor communities."

Municipal Corporation of Delhi workers sit on a pavement outside the Commonwealth Games athletes village in New Delhi

Tired municipal workers sitting on the pavement outside the athletes' village

Sri Ram lived with his family in a poor settlement which had stood on the banks of a canal near the Nehhru Stadium for over 35 years.

Then suddenly the bulldozers were ordered in and in just a few hours hundreds of homes were reduced to rubble.

A multi-story car park now stands on the site.

They want to first criminalise the poor people and them make them invisible. It's very worrying that officials can think and talk like this.

Shivani Chaudry, Housing And Land Rights Network

The residents say they were offered no alternative housing or compensation.

Ram, a 46-year-old street vendor, said: "For us the Commonwealth Games mean nothing. They have destroyed our homes and livelihoods.

"The bulldozers came in one day and we had no time to even salvage our belongings. They just attacked us and destroyed everything.

"I will have to rebuild my life. We just want these games to be over so we can carry on with our lives."

View of Commonwealth Games accommodation

India's image has been tarnished by the state of the athletes' accomodation

A United Nations report claims up to 400,000 people in Delhi have been forced from their homes in the last three years.

Shivani Chaudry claimed: "These evictions are carried out under the guise of city beautification and urban renewal measures to create a 'world class city'."

Chaudry also alleges senior Delhi officials are on record as saying "Indians are used to seeing beggars but Westerners are not".

He added: "They want to first criminalise the poor people and them make them invisible. It's very worrying that officials can think and talk like this."

[Guest SarabjeetSingh]

ਅੱਤ ਚੱਕੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ . ਏਸ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਦਿਨ ਨੇੜੇ ਆ ਗਏ ਲਗਾ

Hope it crumbles like Mughal Empire.