Devinder Kumar Sehrawat Explained

Devinder Kumar Sehrawat is a retired colonel of the Indian Armed Forces and a politician. He is a farmer leader from rural belt of Delhi. As a former Member of the Sixth Legislative Assembly of Delhi,^{[3] [4] [5]} he represented the Bijwasan constituency during his term^{[6] [7]} of New Delhi.

Early Life and Education

Devinder Kumar Sehrawat was born in Mahipalpur, Delhi. He attended The Air Force School, Subroto Park, Delhi, as a boarding student. He earned a Post Graduate Diploma from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, a Master of Science (MSc) degree from Madras University, and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Jawaharlal Nehru University through the National Defence Academy (NDA).

Military Career

Devinder Kumar Sehrawat served in the Indian Army for 20 years. He trained at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, where he captained the basketball team and received the book prize for achieving first place in "Overall Common Service Subjects" during his fourth term. Following NDA, he completed his military training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. At IMA, he earned the Jammu and Kashmir Medal for excelling in "Tactical Training" among his coursemates and held the prestigious position of Academy Under Officer for two terms during his final year.

Commission and Early Assignments

Sehrawat served in the Indian Army for 20 years. He trained at the NDA in Pune, where he captained the basketball team and excelled academically. He continued his training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, receiving the Jammu and Kashmir Medal for Tactical Training and serving as Academy Under Officer.

Commissioned into the Infantry in 1987, Sehrawat underwent Commando training and specialized in counter-insurgency operations, high-altitude warfare, and logistics. He held key positions, including Deputy Commandant of a Field Ordnance Depot in Udhampur and command of a unit in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, during Operation Parakram. He retired as a Colonel.

Leadership in Farmer Issues

Sehrawat has been an advocate for farmers' rights in Delhi, focusing on land acquisition and rural development. His activism includes organizing mass protests, Maha Panchayats, and rallies to address issues such as inadequate compensation for land acquisitions and the lack of ownership rights under the Delhi Land Reforms Act.

Notable movements include:

• Organizing a Maha Panchayat in 2010 to discuss land acquisition for the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
• Leading a farmers’ protest at Jantar Mantar in 2011 to demand better compensation and transparency in land acquisition laws.
• Advocating for amendments to the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013, to include farmer-friendly provisions.

Civil Society and Activism

Sehrawat played a key role in the India Against Corruption movement in 2011, which contributed to the push for the Lokpal Bill. He was a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and served on its National Executive Committee. He has also worked to preserve Delhi's cultural heritage, including efforts to save the Aravali Ridge and Sultan Garhi structures,^{[8] [9]} and was recognized for his social impact in TOI in March 2013.^[10]

He was one of the founder members of the Aam Aadmi Party, AAP and member of its first Executive Committee of the National Council, on formation of the party on 26 November 2012. He held the following responsibilities in the party- Member Land Acquisition Committee, Prabahari State of Haryana.^[11]

Efforts to Save the Ridge. He galvanized the villagers in the efforts to save the Aravali Ridge in Vasant Kunj- Mahipalpur-Rangpuri area.^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

Political career

Sehrawat was elected as Member of Legislative assembly of Delhi in Feb 2015, representing the Bijwasan Constituency. His tenure was marked by initiatives in infrastructure, education, and environmental advocacy:

• Proposing the Citizens Health Safety and Security from Electromagnetic Radiation Due to Mobile Towers Bill, 2015.
• Filing public interest litigations to address waste management and school safety in Delhi.
• Reviving a 400-year-old lake near Vasant Kunj and overseeing the completion of stalled infrastructure projects like the Bijwasan flyover.

In 2019, following the Pulwama attack, Sehrawat resigned from AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where he campaigned for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.^{[16] [17] [18]}

Legislative Achievements

He was elected as member of legislative assembly of Delhi in 2015, to represent Bijwasan Constituency:

• He supported the demand of One Rank One Pension, OROP of the Ex-Servicemen of Indian Armed Forces, addressed the Ex Servicemen sitting on Dharna at 'Jantar Mantar', New Delhi on 28 June 2015 and he tabled a resolution in support in support of 'One Rank One Pension', OROP of the veteran community in the Legislative Assembly of Delhi on 25 June 2015.^[19] The Government of India, accepted the 'One Rank One Pension' by way of its mention in the President's address to both Houses of Parliament on 09.06. 2014.
• Colonel Devinder Sehrawat as member of Legislative Assembly of Delhi, drafted and tabled in the house the 'Citizens Health Safety and Security from Electromagnetic Radiation due to Mobile Towers, Bill 2015.
• In the environmental field,^{[20] [21] [22] [23] [24]} he took up the concerns of the residents of Delhi Airport area regarding 'Waste Management', vide a 'Public Interest Litigation', PIL against SDMC for neglecting waste collection and cleaning of Airport Area.^[25]
• He took up the matter of safety of School children of Delhi. After the incidents of death of 2 primary school children, one in Govt School Kapashera and the other in Ryan School in Vasant Kunj.^{[26] [27]} He filed public interest litigation,^[28] PIL in the High Court of Delhi, against the negligence of the private school authorities and Government officials and by his personal intervention he got a standard operating procedure issued by the court for the safety of approx. 50 Lakh school children of Delhi^{[29] [30]}

Infrastructure development

He made a plan and prepared a vision document for development of Bijwasan constituency, which entailed the development of the Delhi Airport area. Infrastructure development plans. Projects in this area were pending for decades, the planned projects for Common Wealth Games, Delhi-2010, had not got implemented. The constituency was one of the most water deficient areas in Delhi. The plan “Pehli Nazar”- The First Look of India,^[31] was conceived, with the aim of 'Creating a lasting impression on the foreign visitors' and to safe guard the heath of the residents of Bijwasan Constituency in view of the Use of Ground Water for Drinking Purpose, due to total absence of piped water supply.

Notable Works as MLA

During his tenure as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi, Devinder Kumar Sehrawat undertook several significant infrastructure and development projects in the region. Some of his notable achievements include:

• Infrastructure Development:
  • Completion of Northern Bypass: Overseeing the completion of the Northern Bypass from near the CNG Pump on Mahipalpur-Vasant Kunj Road to NH-8 near Aero City Hotel, a project implemented by the Delhi Development Authority at a cost of Rs 90 lakh.
  • Revival of 400-year-old Lake: Initiating the revival of a historic lake near Vasant Kunj in the Shankar Vihar Cantonment, with support from the Ministry of Defence.
  • Completion of Bijwasan Flyover and Underpass: Resolving long-standing issues and completing the Bijwasan Flyover and Underpass, which had been stalled for seven years.

Urban Development and Public Services

• • Removal of Encroachments: Leading efforts to remove encroachments on government school land in Samalka and Gram Sabha land near the DC office, and constructing a 106-room government school and a Baraat Ghar for Kapashera residents.
  • Water Supply: Providing water supply to areas like Raj Nagar, Mahipalpur, Rangpuri Complex, Shahbad Mohammadpur, Dhool Siras, Bamnoli, Bharthal, and Bagdola.
  • Land Allocation: Allocating land for the Dada Bhaiyya Complex in Bijwasan and approving the development of sports complexes in Kapashera and Nangal Dewat.
• Public Amenities:
  • Road Infrastructure: Recarpeting the Mahipalpur-Vasant Kunj Road and installing safety grills on the divider to improve traffic flow.
  • Community Development: Proposing the development of a multi-utility recreation and fitness center, a water body, and a 200-bed hospital in Mahipalpur.

These initiatives significantly improved the quality of life for the residents of the region and showcased Sehrawat's commitment to public service.

He Resigned from Aam Aadmi Party, after Pulwama incident. He joined BJP in May 2019 during Delhi leg of the Lok Sabha elections and actively campaigned for BJP,^[32] resulting in second highest margin in Bijwasan constituency ^[33] amongst the 10 Vidhan Sabha Constituencies under South Delhi Parliamentary seat.

Posts held

	From	To	Position	Comments
01	2014	2019	Aam Aadmi Party, Member of Legislative Assembly for Bijwasan
02	2021	2023	President in Delhi at Akhil Bhartiya Poorv Sainik Seva Parishad

Honours and Recognition

• Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card for dedication to Service.
• Awarded best performing MLA of Delhi, during open on Line Survey on internet.
• Awarded environmental and Water resources soldier award by Airport area environment society.
• Netaji Subhash Chander Bose award^[34] for environmental preservation work by civil society of Gurugram.
• Recognized by Cooperative ministry of Uttrakahand for service to organic farmers of the state.

See also

• The Air Force School, Subroto Park, New Delhi
• National Defence Academy
• Indian Military Academy
• Indian Army
• IIM, Ahemdabad
• Jawahar Lal Nehru University, JNU (National Defence Academy)
• School Of Foreign Languages, (Ministry Of Defence), Lodhi Road, New Delhi
• Mahipalpur
• Aam Aadmi Party
• Bijwasan Constituency
• New Delhi District
• Government of India
• Politics of India
• Sixth Legislative Assembly of Delhi

Notes and References

1. News: Member Profile. Legislative Assembly official website. 9 January 2017.
2. News: Candidate affidavit. My neta.info. 9 January 2017.
3. News: Election result . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150227005206/http://eciresults.nic.in/StatewiseU05.htm . 27 February 2015 . 9 January 2017 . Election commission of India.
4. News: 2013-03-07 . High drama at Delhi Secretariat . 2024-01-17 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
5. News: 2013-10-27 . Will not support Cong. or BJP even if it means re-election: AAP . 2024-01-17 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
6. News: 2013-10-29 . AAP's 1st manifesto for Bijwasan . 2024-01-17 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
7. News: 2014-03-31 . AAP's Devinder Sehrawat wears Army pride on his sleeve . 2024-01-26 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
8. News: dash . dipak . 25 Oct 2010 . Farmers Slam Government for selling land to private firms .
9. Web site: 2012-07-10 . Farmers' protest on Jaipur Road on Tuesday . 2024-01-26 . Hindustan Times . en.
10. News: 2013-03-11 . Home ministry orders complex in 'Ridge' area . 2024-01-16 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
11. News: Singh . Darpan . 8 February 2013 . Activists join villagers to save ridge from concrete, plan stir .
12. News: Chitanglia . Risha . 11 March 2013 . home ministry order complex in ridge .
13. News: Sengupta . Nandita . 27 May 2012 . Delhi Plays Reluctant Host to Mayannmars Nowhere People .
14. Web site: Local residents resent Bangladeshi refugees . 2024-01-30 . Deccan Herald . en.
15. News: 2013-02-14 . "Penalty has exposed doublespeak" . 2024-01-17 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
16. News: 2014-03-23 . AAP's 'son of soil' Colonel sets up war room . 2024-01-30 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
17. News: 2011-05-10 . Farmers agitate as state govts profit from land prices . 2024-01-19 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
18. Web site: 2015-07-01 . Original inhabitants of Delhi may meet the fate of Red Indians in US, says Colonel Devinder Sehrawat . 2024-01-19 . The Indian Express . en.
19. Web site: Motion Legislative Assembly . 2024-01-16 . delhiassembly.delhi.gov.in.
20. Web site: 2012-11-05 . How the Vadra-DLF exposé has endeared Kejriwal to farmers . 2024-01-17 . Firstpost . en.
21. Web site: col devinder sehrawat video on ryan school children - Google Search . 2024-01-17 . www.google.co.in.
22. News: 2012-09-09 . Mahipalpur hunts for Rs 2cr missing road . 2024-01-17 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
23. News: 2012-10-02 . Inquiry into Mahipalpur missing road . 2024-01-17 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
24. Web site: Bijwasan's MLA wants to end wait for new hospital . 2024-01-26 . Deccan Herald . en.
25. Web site: Col. Devinder Sehrawat vs. South Delhi Municipal Coroporation & ANR. . 2024-01-26 . www.the-laws.com.
26. Web site: Schoolboy's death: Delhi HC issues notice to SDMC, Ryan International School . 2024-01-30 . DNA India . en.
27. News: 2016-02-02 . School death: HC issues notice to SDMC, Ryan International . Business Standard.
28. News: 2016-02-02 . School death: PIL seeks action over 'criminal neglect' . 2024-01-30 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
29. Web site: 2016-02-02 . Delhi HC asks govt, SDMC and Ryan International school to reply to PIL . 2024-01-30 . Hindustan Times . en.
30. Web site: Delhi High Court takes stand for students' safety in govt, private schools . 2024-01-30 . India Today . 26 February 2016 . en.
31. News: Trikha . Bhavini . 6 July 2016 . Mahipalpur to become a heritage hub .
32. Web site: ⚡Shiv Sena Appoints Colonel Devinder Sehrawat As Party's Delhi Unit President . 2024-01-19 . LatestLY . en.
33. Web site: Bijwasan Assembly Constituency Election Result - Legislative Assembly Constituency . 2024-01-19 . resultuniversity.com.
34. Web site: Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023 . 2024-01-18 . www.pib.gov.in.