Delhi BJP and Congress on Friday accused the AAP Government of failing to “discharge responsibilities” and urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to rise above “party politics”.
In an ‘open letter’ to the Chief Minister, Delhi BJP asked the CM to release `3,000 crores to the three municipal corporations as per recommendations of 3rd Delhi Finance Commission (DFC).
The three BJP ruled corporations-EDMC, SDMC and NDMC- have high salary bills which are more than the non-plan fund given to them by Delhi Government, the letter written by Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay read.
“Delhi Government must know the municipal corporations spend their fund not just on the pay and allowances but they also look into health services, primary education, midday meal, sanitation which come to about `5,000 crore per annum,” Upadhyay said.
The leader announced that the party workers and its different wings will take out a march from Nirman Vihar Metro in East Delhi to the Secretariat today, in support of the striking municipal employees’ demand for release of funds by the AAP Government.
Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken criticised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for demanding dissolution of the three municipal corporations, saying “by same logic why should not the Delhi Assembly also be dissolved as the AAP Government was equally responsible for the financial mess plaguing the civic bodies.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted that management of an organisation which cannot pay salaries to employees does not have right to continue, adding MCD should be dissolved and fresh elections held.
Maken said that the BJP has been at the Centre for about two years and the AAP Government is in power in Delhi for almost a year. “If the intentions of the two had been good, both could have sat together and solved the financial problem of the municipal bodies. But dissolution of any elected body is no solution to any problem.”
“For the first time since Independence, Delhi is facing such a pathetic condition due to the fight between AAP Government and BJP led Central Government,” Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said.
When Congress was in power in Delhi, it had allocated adequate funds to municipal corporations. The employees never had to resort to strike to get their salaries and arrears, Maken said.
“The then Congress Government in Delhi had allocated `3,128.16 crore to the erstwhile MCD in 2012-13 while AAP Government allocated only `2,457.84 crore to the three municipal corporations for 2015-2016, though the budget should have been around `4,000 crore, as the expenses go up every year,” he added.