AAP MLA’s name surfaces on Jamia’s signage

In flagrant violation of rules, Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan has been accused of getting his name inscribed in the Public Works Department’s (PWD) sign and destination boards installed at Jamia Millia Islamia and in some places of Okhla. However, Khan told The Pioneer that it is not he who has put his name on university signboards erected on Jamia road, but somebody from the Opposition did it to tarnish his image in the locality.

“I don’t know why people especially the Opposition party leaders get jealous from our good work. What is wrong, if I get my name written on a board that was installed by me? I work for people and I have constructed gates and boards in many colonies and lanes,” Khan said.

As you enter Jamia campus from Julaina you can easily spot several university signboards on the road carrying Khan’s name.

Bab-I Qurratulain Hyder, MAK Pataudi Sports Complex, Bab-E Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Jamia Millia Islamia signboards have his name written: “Amanatullah Khan MLA Okhla”.

The development has not gone down well with university students and employees some of whom opposed it saying on condition of anonymity that never in Jamia’s history name of a local MLA has been put on university’s signboards.

Some among them wonder how come the university administration under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Talat Ahmad let it happen and didn’t lodge protest with the PWD or the local MLA. One student requesting not to be quoted said “if such is the case then the PM being the most powerful person could easily put his name on signboards across the country but as this is not the case action need to be taken”.

Jamia has washed its hand of the whole issue. A top university official told The Pioneer, “The party is so influential in the area that it does such things to get publicity. But however, Jamia has nothing to say on this issue because the matter is between the PWD and the MLA.”

A PWD official from Okhla area said, “No one has the right to write their name in a public property. But most of the time people especially political personalities write their name in a public property to attract people and gain support during election.

“Also, there is a MLA and MP fund under which they spend for locality improvement in which they can write their name but writing name in a destination board is an offense, on which action should be taken. As our hands are tied, now the higher officials should take this issue seriously.”

Condemning the move, BJP leader Vijender Gupta said, “It is one of the glaring examples that the AAP do not adhere to the rules and can go to any pitch to play cheap politics just to get publicity. Also, when the boards are installed by the Government money, the PWD should take serious action and remove the name that has been written illegally.”

Vice President of Delhi Pradesh of Congress Committee (DPCC) Chattar Singh said, “Why one will waste time and money to give publicity to other party leader. This is the character of AAP and this is not the only illegal work they have done.

“There are many illegal things which they are doing across the city. It is cheap politics. They feel that election can happen anytime in the national Capital, so they are illegally using Government’s fund for their own publicity. The PWD should take immediate action.”