NEW DELHI: BJP alleged on Friday that Delhi government had forgotten its promise to hold Delhi International Trade Festival despite wasting lots of money in its marketing. In a letter to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that despite creating hype around the festival, which was to be held between January 28 and February 26, no step was taken to organise it. Delhi government did not respond on the issue. The project was announced as part of Rozgar Budget in 2022. The plan was to get a glimpse of Delhi’s art and culture through the wholesale shopping festival. The government hoped to promote tourism through the festival where people would have enjoyed food of all varieties, including Delhi’s famous items. Kapoor wrote in the letter that in a press conference on July 6, 2022, the chief minister “had shown a dream to citizens of Delhi, especially the traders, that this festival will be similar to Dubai Festival and will go a long way to promote trade and tourism in Delhi”. He added, “Crores of rupees from the exchequer were spent on advertising the proposed trade festival. Today when we stand on the eve of January 28, there is no trade festival happening in Delhi.” The government has not even showed the courtesy to apologise and announce withdrawal of its announcement, Kapoor said.To be organised with an outlay of Rs 250 crore, the festival was supposed to offer immense business and employment opportunities. Government sources said that though meetings were held between Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission and the tourism department, the consultations were put on hold due to the Gujarat assembly and Delhi civic polls. The festival cannot be held without the involvement of Municipal Corporation of Delhi where there is still a deadlock even over a month after the election, a source said, adding that the process would get a fresh push once the mayoral polls are completed.Under Rozgar Budget, the AAP government has announced 19 key initiatives to generate employment opportunities in service, trade and manufacturing sectors. Officials said in early January that basic plans of each initiative had been drawn up and relevant approvals were being sought from different departments and agencies to roll them out. The tourism department has shortlisted 20 locations to set up food trucks, the draft policy is being reviewed by different departments.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bjp-targets-delhi-govt-over-failure-to-hold-trade-festival/articleshow/97383995.cms