Even as the BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) agreed to pay pensions for three months, the Congress on Monday alleged that the SDMC has Rs1,208 crore in its bank account and is only keeping the public in dark by portraying a financially-unstable picture.
The issue of non-disbursement of pensions is one of the dominant subjects in the upcoming MCD bypolls and both the Congress and the BJP accused each other of “milking” the issue of pensions due to thousands of people, for “electoral gains”. The MCD bypolls to 13 seats are due on May 15.
The House meeting of SDMC was disrupted on Monday as the Congress shouted slogans and accused the BJP of corrupt practices. Congress councilors attacked the ruling-BJP for failing to provide pensions to senior citizens.
leader of Opposition Farhad Suri pointed out that SDMC has Rs1,208 crore in its bank account and it is very much able to disburse pensions. Releasing a list of banks where the money was invested in 2014-15, the balance sheet includes Rs650 crore being invested in general and property tax account, Rs420 crore in Escrow account, Rs55 crore in Earnest money account, Rs13 crore in Security account and Rs70 crore in RR cut account that amounts to Rs1,208 crore.
“On one hand the ruling party is saying it is not the obligatory function of the corporation to give pensions to the people, and on the other hand they are saying they will disburse pensions for three months. If they are obliged to pay, how can they pay for three monthsIJ Moreover, if they really want to pay the pensions, they should do so for six months, but they are not ready for that as well. BJP is clearly not talking logic,” Suri said.
South MCD leader of the House Subhash Arya said that the BJP is ready disburse pensions for three months.
“Congress picked up on this issue of pensions as the MCD bypolls are coming up and they want to put things against the BJP,” Arya said.