A scuffle involving an AAP-backed dalit councillor and BJP members on Thursday broke out at the “joint session” of three BJP-ruled municipal corporations that passed a resolution criticising the Kejriwal government for “not giving” funds to the civic bodies.

The meeting at Ramlila Maidan here, ostensibly in response to the two-day special session of the Delhi Assembly called by the AAP government to discuss alleged “corruption and mismanagement” in the three civic bodies, passed a censure motion against the Kejriwal government as the Congress walked out over the incident involving NDMC councillor Rakesh Kumar.

Mr Kumar, a councillor from Kucha Pandit ward in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, was allegedly roughed up by the BJP councillors for wearing an AAP cap, drawing sharp reaction from Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who termed the BJP as a party of “ruffians” that was targeting dalits. Mr Kumar was elected as an Independent, but is known as a supporter of the AAP.

“The councillors of the BJP and the Congress were being allowed to raise issues while my attempts to say something went unnoticed. When I tried to draw attention of the House by waving the AAP cap, 4-5 persons, who I can identify by face, charged at me and started beating me up,” he alleged.

Mr Kumar said that he immediately called the police control room number and lodged his complaint. “I am a Scheduled Caste member and was elected from the Kucha Pandit ward reserved for the community. It was pure hooliganism and it was captured by TV cameras. I can identify all those who attacked me, including the BJP councillor Neeraj Gupta, who scuffled with me. I will also lodge a complaint in connection with the attack,” he said.

Lashing out at the BJP, Mr Kejriwal tweeted, “Utterly shameful. BJP is a party of gundas. Rakesh is a dalit. BJP assaulting dalits all over India in a systematic way.” North Delhi mayor Sanjeev Nayyar said that action will be taken against the “guilty.”

However, the BJP councillors alleged that Mr Kumar, who was wearing an AAP cap in the joint session of the three municipal corporations, became violent when he was asked to take it off. “He was wearing the AAP cap during the session which is not allowed. He was requested to take it off but he started arguing,” alleged Mr Gupta, the BJP councillor from Vasant Vihar (East).