Councillors resign over leaked audio

The ruling BJP found itself in an embarrassing position after an audio between two of its councillor in Jaipur Municipal Corporation regarding a cut in payment to sanitation workers went viral. The audio also brings up internal fighting within the party and its board members in the JMC. The BJP ward councilors and chairmen of sanitation committees later resigned on the instruction of the party leadership. In the audio the two councillors Prakash Gupta and Anil Sharma heard talking about raising payment of the contract firm so that they can have a bigger cut even though the contractor already paying less than minimum wages to sanitation workers while getting much more from the JMC. The two councillors also mentioned another party councillor Dinesh Aman and to settle the issue before mayor Nirmal Nahta. All three councillors are chairmen of health and sanitation committees of the JMC, whi-ch on the basis of numerical strength has three such committees. The two councillors who were summoned by the state party president Ashok Parnami have confessed that the voices in the audio were theirs.

Later, Anil Sharma was heard suggesting Gupta to accept the money already paid. “Jo paise aa gaye hain wo toh le lo chhode huye kya kaam ke... fir kah dena aur do aur do. (Accept the money which has already come to you...why leave it than ask for more and more).” The three BJP ward councilors and chairmen of sanitation committees in tbe jaipyr municipal corporation gave resigned on the instruction of the party leadership.

These two are also heard discussing about calling a meeting with city mayor and help the contractors. However, Mayor Nirmal Nahata, said , “I have heard the audio. Though my name has been taken, I have nothing to do with this. An inquiry will be initiated and action will be taken if anyone is found guilty.”

State BJP president Ashok Parnami summoned all three councillors and mayor for an explanation as the opposition Congress protested outside the JMC and announced to lodge a complaint to the anti-corruption bureau.