The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the BJP and the Congress of disrupting deliberations in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House, alleging that the two parties sought to divert attention from questions over the promised ₹2-crore development fund for each councillor.
AAP’s Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Ankush Narang, claimed that although the BJP had promised ₹2 crore to every councillor, only ₹50 lakh had been released even after seven months. He alleged that Congress councillor Nazia Danish made objectionable remarks against AAP councillor Shagufta Zubair Chaudhary to divert attention from the funding issue.
Narang questioned why the Congress was allegedly siding with the BJP instead of demanding accountability on issues affecting Delhi residents. He also demanded a public apology from Danish and the MCD Mayor over the alleged remarks and the incident in the House.
AAP councillor Shagufta Zubair Chaudhary said the money being sought was the public’s entitlement and not charity. Showing scratches on her hands, she alleged that a confrontation had taken place during the proceedings and questioned why councillors were being prevented from raising issues concerning their constituencies.
“The money belongs to the entire House and should be distributed equally among councillors,” she said, according to the party’s statement. She also alleged that she had attempted to take the microphone to ensure she was allowed to speak.
The controversy comes amid wider concerns raised by AAP over civic issues, including rising air pollution, garbage management and the functioning of municipal services.
AAP’s MCD co-in-charge Praveen Kumar alleged that the BJP and Congress had jointly obstructed the House proceedings, preventing discussion on these issues. He claimed that pollution levels had risen sharply in October and alleged that 52,000 bamboo saplings planted at Kalsua had been buried under garbage.
Kumar further alleged that municipal officials were not responding to councillors’ calls and that civic works were being affected. He accused the BJP of attempting to prevent scrutiny of its functioning and alleged corruption in the civic body.
The allegations and counter-allegations come amid continuing political friction in the MCD over civic funding, pollution control and the conduct of House proceedings. The claims regarding the fund allocation, the alleged remarks and the confrontation have been made by AAP and could not be independently verified from the party’s press release alone.
The End
