Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the alleged scam of Rs 2500 crore in the BJP-ruled municipal corporation was bigger than 2010 Commonwealth Games in the national capital when Congress was in power. BJP leaders, however, have refuted all the charges of corruption saying the AAP government was trying to create distractions from real issues.
Kejriwal claimed that a scams of Rs 5000-10,000crore happen annually in the civic bodies while giving required permission for construction of buildings in the city. The Rs 2500 crore, allegedly misappropriated could have been utilised for 7500-bed hospitals or 12500 mohalla clinics. It could also have been used to pay salaries to sanitation workers and wages to healthcare workers, said Kejriwal while addressing a special session in Delhi Assembly.
The AAP MLAs also raised slogans, showed placards and displayed a large banner against the alleged Rs.2,500 crore scam in the House.
Kejriwal pointed out that councillors who used to own bicycles after a few years roam around in big cars by looting taxpayers money. Everyone on the street was aware about MCD’s corruption, and they also knew that Delhi government was clean, said the chief minister. He added that citizens have to choose between two models -AAP’s model of governance or BJP’s model in the MCDs.
The financial dispute began when New Delhi Municipal corporation(NDMC) claimed that South Delhi Municipal corporation owes Rs 2457crore as rent over the use of its office premises. The AAP government demanded a CBI probe into the matter, alleging that the north civic body illegally charged the amount in question from the south body. The Assembly has adopted a resolution to seek an investigation into the matter by the central agency after Kejriwal’s speech.
Rejecting the allegations, BJP leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri challenged the AAP government to prove the authenticity of the charges over this alleged scam. The government was trying to distract from the real issues which were raised by the three mayors of the corporations about the release of funds, said the Leader of Opposition.
Kejriwal should set aside the political differences and rather talk to those mayors outside his house and release Rs13,000 crore of civic bodies with the immediate effect, added Bidhuri.
Citing the BJP’s demand of payment of Rs13,000 crore dues to the corporation, Kejriwal said all the dues have been paid to the corporations by the Delhi Government.
Also Read: Hathras victim family says happy case moving forward towards justice
Mayors and BJP councillors have been staging demonstrations and indefinite hunger strike outside Kejriwal’s residence in demand of Rs 13,000 crore for civic bodies, claiming the state government owes them. The protest entered its 12th day on Friday.