Battle for municipal funds: BJP, Congress seek Rajnath’s help

A Delhi BJP delegation, including the three mayors, on Monday met Home minister Rajnath Singh and asked him to intervene in the battle for funds between the Delhi government and the municipal corporations

A Delhi BJP delegation, including the three mayors, on Monday met Home minister Rajnath Singh and asked him to intervene in the battle for funds between the Delhi government and the municipal corporations.

Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay with Delhi mayors Subhash Arya and Ravinder Gupta and BJP MLA Vijender gupta after meeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Monday (PTI)

The BJP leadership accused the Delhi government of creating controversies with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung. The BJP leaders held the government responsible of not fulfilling its constitutional obligation of providing statutory funds to the municipal corporations, leading to a collapse of civic services in the capital.

“We brought to the knowledge of the home minister how the Delhi government had denied the pending funds as per the 3rd Delhi Finance Commission and has put on hold the implementation of the 4th Delhi Finance Commission recommendations on funds to the municipal corporations by imposing unconstitutional riders for central assistance,” said Satish Upadhyay, Delhi BJP chief.

According to the delegation, they assured Rajnath that once the recommendations of the fourth Delhi Finance Commission are implemented and pending funds released by the Delhi government, the corporations will provide best possible civic services to the city.

The Delhi Congress, meanwhile, has sought an appointment with Rajnath to discuss the problems plaguing the civic bodies and seek his intervention.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said he had written to the home minister asking for an appointment as the MCDs were under the Union Home Ministry.

“The loan sanctioned by the Delhi government would not provide a permanent solution to the problems of the MCDs, which have witnessed several strikes by the workers,” Maken said.