NEW DELHI: East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC)’s House meeting on Monday witnessed commotion with some elected representatives getting involved in a scuffle.
While the councillors from BJP were blaming AAP-led Delhi government for not releasing “pending Rs 13,000 crore”, AAP councillors alleged Rs 2,500-crore scam in the corporations.
As soon as the House proceedings started with condolence motion for a deceased relative of a BJP councillor in EDMC, heated argument started as AAP’s leader of opposition Manoj Tyagi raised objection for not mentioning a building collapse incident of his ward. Thereafter, a proposal for waiving off interest and penalty on one-time payment of houses tax till March 31, 2021 was brought and it was allegedly torn by an AAP councillor, according to EDMC mayor.
This led to a brawl and some councillors allegedly hurled slippers at each other. Mayor Nirmal Jain later suspended two AAP councillors, including leader of opposition Manoj Tyagi and New Seemapuri councillor Mohini Jeenwal. “A disciplinary notice will be issued to the AAP councillor, Geeta Rawat,” the civic agency stated in a press release.
AAP councillors, however, called the action biased. “We have filed police complaints against two BJP councillors, including former mayor, for unruly behaviour, using abusive language and casteist remarks,” said Tyagi.
The EDMC mayor alleged that the AAP councillors were raising objections over everything. “They were demanding discussion on farmers’ bills, which have nothing to do with the corporation. They then targeted leader of House Pravesh Sharma and former mayor Bipin Bihari. Jeenwal even took out her slipper to attack BJP councillors while Rawat came on dias to reach us,” Jain claimed.
Tyagi, however, said that “Jain acts like a BJP and not EDMC mayor.” “He didn’t take any action against Bihari who attacked me, used casteist remarks against Jeenwal and even hit her. Their other councillor, Santol Pal, used abusive language for Rawat,” he claimed.
Senior AAP functionary Durgesh Pathak claimed that BJP councillors had started the ruckus. “We demanded a discussion on the Rs 2,500-crore scam but instead of a debate, they started abusing our councillors and manhandled our party functionaries. If they have done no wrong then why are they running away from debate and not ordering a CBI inquiry,” Pathak asked.
During the north corporation meeting also, ruckus was witnessed. While some AAP councillors went to the visitor’s gallery and started flinging pamphlets, BJP councillors shouted slogans against the AAP-led Delhi government continuously.
“If union minister Hardeep Puri can come all the way to end the mayors’ strike outside CM house, why can’t he get money released to three corporations directly from the Centre so that their financial condition can improve,” said Vikas Goel, AAP councillor and leader of opposition in the north corporation.
Over alleged misappropriation of Rs 2,457 crore, the north corporation stated: “There is no truth in the said allegation. All steps were taken as per the decision of council of ministers and were communicated to commissioner MCD in March 2012.”