Parking on green belt | Congress stir: A lot of anger over a lot - Hindustan Times
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Parking on green belt | Congress stir: A lot of anger over a lot

Hindustan Times | By, Chandigarh
Sep 29, 2016 01:40 PM IST

A Congress protest to save a park kept mayor Arun Sood parked at the MC office gate in Sector 17 here for 35 minutes, ahead of the House meeting on Wednesday.

A Congress protest to save a park kept mayor Arun Sood parked at the MC office gate in Sector 17 here for 35 minutes, ahead of the House meeting on Wednesday.

Former mayor Poonam Sharma of the Congress and her supporters raising slogans against mayor Arun Sood as they gheraoed his car outside the municipal corporation office in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Wednesday.(Ravi Kumar/HT Photo)
Former mayor Poonam Sharma of the Congress and her supporters raising slogans against mayor Arun Sood as they gheraoed his car outside the municipal corporation office in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Wednesday.(Ravi Kumar/HT Photo)

Former mayor Poonam Sharma was atop the bonnet of Sood’s stranded car and Congress general secretary Sunil Sood reportedly got fractured four of his ribcage bones and another worker Rajni Talwar got injured her finger in the melee. The showdown was against the proposal to convert the Sector 38 green belt into a parking lot for Vivek High School.

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For nearly half-an-hour, the mayor couldn’t step out of his car. It was only after the intervention of the security personnel and a mild lathicharge that he could enter the MC building.

Must watch | VIDEO : Ex-mayor climbs on mayor’s car as Congress protests parking lot in park

The Congress protesters raised slogans against him and demanded his resignation.

Arun Sood in Chandigarh on Wednesday. (Ravi Kumar/HT Photo)
Arun Sood in Chandigarh on Wednesday. (Ravi Kumar/HT Photo)

In the House, Congress councillors raised the issue again and a debate continued for nearly half-an-hour. Congress Councillor Darshan Garg alleged that it seemed as if there was some deal between mayor and management of Vivek High School, Sector 38. He said Sood got his brother’s children admitted to the same school and now he wanted to oblige the school.

Former Congress mayor Poonam Sharma said, “When the proposal was rejected in 2006, how come the mayor approved it now.”

She said if UT architect Kapil Setia was the one who approved the proposal, let the UT administration spend money on this, why was the civic body spending money on this.

Congress councillors even alleged that officers of UT administration was hand-in-glove with the mayor on the issue.

Mayor Arun Sood, who has been pushed to the backfoot on the issue, said, “I will hold a meeting with the residents of Sector 38 on Thursday and whatever they decide, MC will comply with that.”

The issue

In the Finance and Contract Committee meeting held on September 20, a parking lot in the green belt of Sector 38 was approved. Mayor Arun Sood, through a letter in April this year, had asked the chief engineer to start work on the lot adjacent to Vivek High School, Sector 38. Following this, the architect of the UT administration, too, approved the parking lot. The section of the residents of Sector 38 had opposed the decision of the mayor.

Jannat loses it again in House meet

Chandigarh: Once again, BSP councillor Jannat Jahan made her presence felt in the House on Wednesday for what she is known for — unparliamentary language. That she also broke down during her speech only added to the variety.

She lashed out at municipal corporation chief engineer NP Singh and member Parliament Kirron Kher for ignoring her ward. Jahan spoke for nearly 15 minutes, during which she vented her anger and used words like ‘bloody hell’ and ‘what nonsense’ several times. Mayor Sood tried to pacify her, but in vain.

MC commissioner B Purusharta asked her to mind her language or ‘the officers will walk away’.

Nominated councillor Dr Amrita Tewari said, “Whenever she speaks, she uses derogatory words like ‘F*** Y**’, shit, bloody hell.” On this, Jahan said she didn’t abuse anyone today (on Wednesday). She said it was unfortunate that MC chief engineer never took her calls and her ward was the most neglected in the city. “Sanitation in my ward has gone from bad to worse and wards being represented by BJP councillors are being spruced up,” she said.

Lashing out at Kirron, Jahan said she was trying to give an impression that only BJP councillors were working for the people they represent.

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