Ludhiana: A day after the BJP blamed Ludhiana mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu for the garbage collection company A2Z quitting the contract, the mayor on Wednesday launched a counter attack, saying the saffron party wants to turn the city into a heap of garbage by doing politics over the issue.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the BJP had held him responsible for the door-to-door garbage collection company A2Z walking out of the contract and also levelled some other allegations against him.
Launching a scathing attack against the BJP, Sandhu alleged that the party is not allowing the municipal corporation to award the contract to a suitable contractor for garbage collection. He said it was the BJP and its coalition partner SAD, who brought A2Z company to Ludhiana and awarded them contracts.
The mayor also made it clear that A2Z would not be spared for leaving the civic body in the lurch and a notice to the company has been issued for quitting the contract. Strict action would be taken against the company as per law, he asserted.
Levelling allegations against the firm, Sandhu said, “A2Z was awarded the contract when there was a joint House of BJP and SAD and senior BJP leader Parveen Bansal was the senior deputy mayor. Why did the BJP leaders remain silent when the company sublet its contract? Now, when the company has run away leaving us in the lurch, they are holding us responsible for this. We tried our best to hold talks with the company and convince them to carry on with their contract. We have been engaged in dialogue with the company since December when they served us the notice to quit the contract.”
Sandhu further said it is sad to see the politics over awarding of contract to a new contractor. He went on to ask as to what is the harm in holding discussions with the company, which was sublet this contract by A2Z and is ready to do the work at the old rates only.
“But, unfortunately, the BJP wants to defame us and our government by disrupting the welfare works and creating hurdles. They are levelling frivolous allegations against me, but this does not bother me at all, because everyone knows about my intentions, which are clearly directed at development of the city. I can only request them that rather than doing dirty politics, they should help us and the MC in keeping our city clean. I will call a meeting of the House and an all-party meeting as well, and all valid suggestions will be considered there,” the mayor said.