Govt Goes All Out to Impress Trump; Slum Dwellers to be Evicted, Roads get Makeover

As many as 45 families living near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, where American President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a joint meeting, have been reportedly told to evict by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The notices are dated February 11, asking the slum dwellers to leave in seven days, however, they were served only on Monday with the deadline being Tuesday. While residents alleged that they have been asked to evict because of the upcoming event, the civic body has denied the same.

Trump’s visit to Ahmedabad and New Delhi has been scheduled for February 24 and 25. Modi and Trump will hold a roadshow in Ahmedabad. AMC is also erecting a wall along the road connecting the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to Indira Bridge, allegedly to mask a slum in the city. About 1.25 lakh people are expected to attend the event at the stadium.

"The AMC officials who came to serve the notices asked us to vacate as soon as possible," Teja Meda, a 35-year-old construction worker, who claims to have been residing in the slum for 22 years told. "They told us that the head of the United States is visiting Motera stadium and they wanted us to move out," he added.

He alleged that the authorities told them to not go for work on Monday as they had to be present to be served the notices. "All of us are construction workers, registered with Majur Adhikar Manch (a trade union in Gujarat for unorganised workers) and on an average we earn Rs 300 daily," he said.

"These slum-dwellers had encroached upon a land under one of the town planning schemes and hence were served notices," said Assistant Taluka Development Officer (Motera) at the Usmanpura office of AMC, Kishore Varna, who signed the notices, adding it had "nothing to do" with Trump's visit. "There are some elements who are trying to take advantage of the event," he said further.

Meanwhile, Agra is also gearing up with roads getting a makeover and shops being painted in one colour so as to not cause visual discomfort to the visiting VVIP couple.