Ludhiana: Congress, BJP lock horns over credit for road construction project
BJP councillor Sonia Sharma, along with her supporters, inaugurated the work on Wednesday morning, but a few Congress leaders led by Sarabjit Singh Dhillon allegedly halted the work stating that he had got the project approved from municipal corporation (MC) and the BJP councillor was trying to take credit for the same
A high drama was witnessed in Gurmail Nagar of Ward Number 31 on Wednesday after Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress leaders locked horns over taking credit of a road construction project in the locality.
As per information, BJP councillor Sonia Sharma, along with her supporters, inaugurated the work on Wednesday morning, but a few Congress leaders led by Sarabjit Singh Dhillon allegedly halted the work stating that he had got the project approved from municipal corporation (MC) and the BJP councillor was trying to take credit for the same.
Following this, Sharma,along with her supporters, sat there in protest against the MC for stopping the work on the direction of the Congress leader. As the situation escalated, a police team led by ACP Randhir Singh reached the spot to pacify the protesters. The tussle between the leaders continued for around four hours, but the work could not be commenced.
Sharma alleged,”The road was not constructed in the area for the last few years and I got the work approved from MC under councillor quota. However, Sarabjit Dhillon, whose wife lost the last MC elections against me, brought the work to a halt, stating that it can’t be carried out on my directions.”
“We also contacted the MC officials but to no avail. Even the police tried to threaten us with an FIR. I will take up the matter with MC Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal on Thursday and seek action against the MC officials who stopped the work on the directions of the Congress leader. It is disrespectful for a councillor. I will stage a protest if no action is taken against the officials.”
Meanwhile, Dhillon refuted the allegations and stated that he got the work approved from MC under general quota and the BJP councillor was trying to take credit for it.
“The contractor had to take back the concrete mixer vehicle as time to utilise the material had lapsed due to the drama staged by the BJP councillor. No one threatened her and even the MC officials had confirmed that the work was approved under general quota. The road construction will soon begin in the area,” he added.
Despite attempts made to reach MC zonal commissioner Neeraj Jain, he was unavailable for comments.