It happens only in India: One bridge, 2 inaugurations
The Delhi Assembly elections may still be a few months away but a battle has already started between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Delhi Assembly elections may still be a few months away but a battle has already started between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The parties have locked their horns over a newly-built railway underpass at Gulabi Bagh, which both claim to be their project. Such is the furore over the underpass that it is likely to witness two inaugurations - so that each party gets its 15 seconds of fame.
The problem arose since one part of the underpass falls under a Congress councillor's area and the other part under a BJP councillor. North Delhi Mayor and BJP leader Mira Aggarwal wants to inaugurate the underpass constructed by the municipal body on January 17.
The local Congress councillor, too, has planned a function on January 11, with Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and Union Minister Kapil Sibal as chief guests.
Councillor Satbir Sharma said the inauguration was being organised by the Public Welfare Department of the government, as the road on which the underpass has been constructed comes under the jurisdiction of the PWD. The Delhi government had taken over all roads more than 60 feet width from the municipal bodies last year.
"The road is now under the jurisdiction of the PWD and it is organising an inauguration at 11am on Friday. The project will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Union Minister Kapil Sibal and Delhi PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan will be present," said Sharma.
The councillor added that a formal invitation to the Mayor was sent a week back, but she has refused to attend the event. According to civic body officials, the underpass was constructed by the municipality and so the BJP Mayor must do the honours.