Railway minister says infant died before Delhi slum demolition began; Rahul promises to 'fight battle'

New Delhi: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday reiterated his stand that the six-month-old child had died before the demolition in Delhi's Shakur Basti and not during the drive.

Prabhu made his statement in the Lok Sabha on the encroachment drives where around 500 jhuggis were razed to the ground. "The child has died much before the demolition drive began and the encroachers did not vacate the place despite repeated notices. Such encroachments are the main source of garbage and safety hazard. Will meet Delhi Chief Minister today to discuss tackling encroachment in other areas too," Prabhu said in his statement.

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited the razed Shakur Basti where the Indian Railways had conducted a demolition drive, uprooting around 500 jhuggis and promised the homeless slum dwellers that they would be provided aid at the earliest.

Flanked by security and chanting Congress supporters, Rahul inspected the slum area and also interacted with affected families who told him of their woes, while a massive crowd followed him.

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While speaking to the slum dwellers, Rahul promised them that he would extend every help possible to alleviate them of their problems.

"Call me if they try to break your homes again and I promise I won't let it happen. I will help you in every way possible. You know we are not in power, its Modi ji and Kejriwal ji who are at power. You're fight is our fight," Rahul told a slum dweller.

Speaking to the media later, he accused the Delhi government and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre for the razing of the slum and asserted that the law had been clearly broken during the demolition.

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"There is a way of doing these things and the law has clearly been broken here. The Modi Government and the Delhi Government are involved here and now they are engaged in a blame game. What they should be doing is help the hungry and the people in pain. They need to ensure rehabilitation and provide them shelter," Rahul said.

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Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Rahul for questioning the Aam Aadmi Party's protest against the demolition, saying that he was still a 'child' in politics.

"Rahul Gandhi is still a child. I don't think his party has told him that that Indian Railways comes the Centre and not the Delhi Government," Kejriwal tweeted.Also read: 

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Rahul had demanded to know the reason behind AAP's 'dharna' since they were the ruling power in Delhi.

Earlier on Monday, the AAP joined by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) protested outside the Parliament against the slum demolition.