AAP ministers hit Delhi streets to clear garbage

Sisodia alleges ‘salary scam’ in corporations, Kejriwal hopeful matter will resolve soon after HC hearing

As the strike called by over 60,000 sanitation workers of the city’s three BJP-ruled municipal bodies entered fifth day, Delhi ministers, Aam Aadmi Party MLAs along with hundreds of party workers hit the streets on Sunday to clear the garbage dumps in several areas of the national capital.

Hours after the ministers descended on roads armed with brooms, striking sanitation workers had a face-off with public works department staff, who had been pressed to clear the garbage piling up in the city.

The sanitation workers maintained they will continue with their protest until their “just” demands were met and their pending dues and arrears were cleared. They warned that the situation in the city may “deteriorate” after the AAP government engaged PWD teams in the cleanliness drive.

The AAP legislators and workers joined the PWD taskforce, which was pressed into action to clear the garbage piling up in the city and shift it to the landfill sites, particularly in East and North Delhi where the strike has had maximum impact. Along with them, over 2,000 Delhi Jal Board workers teamed up with PWD workers for the cleanliness drive.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in Bengaluru for naturopathy treatment, lauded the PWD staff for working through the night to clear garbage and urged the AAP functionaries to help the department personnel. “I am told PWD people and trucks worked whole nite to clean up garbage. I would urge all AAP volunteers to help PWD,” he tweeted, urging them to “keep it up.”

Hospitals run by the civic bodies were also hit hard as around 7,000 doctors and 12,000 nurses joined the strike on Saturday seeking payment of their dues. The nearly 12,000-strong engineering staff of the civic bodies has also struck work since Saturday.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who took part in the cleanliness drive in his Patparganj constituency, alleged a “salary scam” in the corporations. He said the AAP government is looking for a “permanent solution” to the problem. Besides Mr Sisodia, Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra, PWD minister Satyendar Jain and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel participated in the cleanliness drive in their respective constituencies.

Extending support to striking workers demanding dues, Mr Kejriwal hoped that “some solution” will emerge after the high court hears the matter next week. “I support demand of protesting the MCD employees that they should get their full salaries. I hope some solution will emerge after Tuesday’s high court hearing,” he said. The court has issued notices to Union urban development ministry, the Delhi government and the three municipal corporations of Delhi seeking their stand on petitioner Rahul Birla’s claim that the concerned authorities were not paying salaries and arrears since 2003 to the MCD workers. It also asked the Delhi police commissioner, Mr B.S. Bassi, to ensure there is no hindrance to lifting of garbage in coordination with the civic bodies here, in view of the indefinite strike that began on January 27. “We have already paid them (the corporations) funds for clearing salaries. We cannot let people live amid garbage. Hence, we have undertaken the cleanliness drive,” Mr Sisodia said.

Meanwhile, Rajendra Mewati, general secretary of the United Front of MCD Employees, warned that the situation may “deteriorate” if the AAP government continues to engage PWD workers. “The situation may deteriorate if the government continues to engage PWD workers in cleaning the city when sanitation workers are on an indefinite strike,” he said.

Mr Mishra took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that by the time the latter finishes his Mann Ki Baat, the AAP would wind up its Kaam ki Baat.

“Whenever he (PM) indulges in mann ki baat, his detachment from the country’s real issues and problems comes out. He is full of himself (atmomugdh),” Mishra tweeted.

The Congress targeted both the BJP and the AAP over the “crisis,” saying the two parties were “fooling” people of Delhi. It slammed the AAP for allegedly cutting budgetary allocation for payment of sanitation workers’ salaries and asked the ruling party to show a “large-heart” by releasing funds to bring the “crisis” to an end. “The AAP government has brought down budgetary allocation for municipal corporations from 9.3 per cent during our dispensation to 5.98 per cent now. And, it has increased the budget for its self-promotion,” Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken rued.