While the war for ‘prestige’ ensues between two factions of the Bharatiya Janata Party following clashes between Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik-supported Haridwar Mayor Manoj Garg and Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj, Congress has also darted in to add fuel to the already heated politics.
The Congress leaders are mulling over launching a public campaign very soon. They have raised a question mark on the working of the district administration and also called for demolition of other encroachments in the city done by BJP party workers.
Addressing a Press conference at the Press club on Sunday, former legislator and Congress leader Ambrish Kumar said that the centenary celebrations of Quit India movement on August 9 have not even ended, and the BJP leaders had started showing their true colours to the Prime Minister. He said that whatever melodrama of BJP happened on Thursday would probably have never been done by any ruling party in the State.
He also questioned the administrative delays adding that the FIR was lodged by both the clashing entities but no arrest had been made by the police so far. He challenged the district administration to disclose on whose instructions the action was being withheld and ignored.
He also condemned the BJP State president Ajay Bhatt on his statement in which he had said that FIRs are lodged but they did not mean anything. “Here BJP is running the Government as per its own sweet will. The statement made by the BJP State president is an insult to the court of law.” The lease date must be examined, said Ambrish Kumar, referring to the land where the dispute had arisen.
Former Haridwar municipal council chairman Satpal Brahmchari said , “There are many encroachments done by the BJP party workers in the city which must come under scanner and action must be taken against them”
He further said that Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik had acted to hide his own failure and bad condition of the city. He alleged that Mayor Manoj Garg had been collecting Rs 50 lakh in fines in the name of cleaning the city drains. He questioned the presence of the 300 people who had been deployed by Garg for cleaning drains.
He said that the Mayor should not take the pretext of drain cleaning or garbage cleaning for his anti-encroachment drive at Prem Nagar ashram. He also said that two out of three pumping sets installed during Harish Rawat led Congress Government’s term were now defunct.
Congress leader Sanjay Paliwal also demanded action on FIR lodged by the supporters of the Mayor and Satpal Maharaj.