In a protest to demand funds from the Delhi government, the mayors of the capital’s BJP-run municipalities sat on a one-day hungerstrike on Tuesday at Jantar Mantar.
In a protest to demand funds from the Delhi government, the mayors of the capital’s BJP-run municipalities sat on a one-day hungerstrike on Tuesday at Jantar Mantar. The protest saw participation of 15 BJP leaders, including the mayors from the North, South and East Delhi civic bodies, along with scores of BJP leaders and workers.
Protest led by Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay demanded proper funds for the three municipal corporations so that they could ensure proper civic services in the city. Addressing the protest, Mr Upadhyay said it was “tragic” that civic facilities are crippling in the national capital due to lack of funds as the Delhi government is playing dirty politics. “The Delhi BJP will go all out to expose the farcical working of the Kejriwal government and ensure that Delhi gets proper civic services,” he said.
The Delhi government had released '66 crore to the NDMC under non-plan head after meeting the municipal commissioners, and a section of North Corporation employees received salaries for the month of November. However, the three mayors claimed their fight is not for the release of the annual grants but the implementation of the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission.
Recalling his experience, South Delhi mayor Subhash Arya said, “As public representative I have never seen a state government so biased against municipal corporations and determined to cripple civic services as this Kejriwal government. Municipal leaders are committed to take the fight for the right of citizens of Delhi to world class civic services straight to the Delhi Secretariat.”
The Delhi high court had on January 7 ordered the AAP government to release what it owes to the corporations as per the recommendations of the third Delhi Finance Commission. The AAP government has still not implemented the recommendations of the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission.
