North MCD: Huge ruckus at special meet to discuss budget

New Delhi: Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Saturday not only tore away the copy of Budget but also threw it towards the mayor’s chair in the special House meeting called to finalise Budget for the next fiscal. Both the Opposition parties, AAP and Congress kept on shouting slogans during the Budget speech of the Leader of the House Jayendra Dabas.

AAP members disrupted the House proceedings demanding resignation of mayor Preety Agarwal, citing a vigilance probe ordered by the lieutenant-governor, while Congress councillors joined them demanding resignation of mayor and Delhi minister Satyendar Jain.

Anticipating disturbance of special House meeting called to finalise and passed the Budget, the BJP deployed a team of senior party leader and former councillors. Delhi BJP general secretary Rajesh Bhatia, who served as deputy chairman of the standing committee, led the team. On the direction of senior leaders, the mayor conveyed the special meeting on time. Mr Dabas read a few pages before arrival of Opposition members.

AAP councillors led by the Leader of the Opposition Rakesh Kumar jumped into well of the House and shouted slogans, demanding resignation of the mayor. While Congress members led by party leader Mukesh Goel started shouting slogans from their seats, seeking resignation of Ms Agarwal and Mr Jain.

A few AAP councillors tore away the Budget copy and threw it towards the mayor. Security was called in the well to prevent any untoward situation. Later, AAP councillors went to their seats. AAP and Congress counclllors climbed on to their seats and kept raising slogans till the end of the meeting.