MCD takeover: BJP gets into battle gear

The Bharatiya Janata Party has constituted a seven-member committee to tackle the Delhi government’s move of taking over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, reports HT Correspondent.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has constituted a seven-member committee to tackle the Delhi government’s move of taking over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

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“This committee will study the proposal of the home ministry with regard to putting the MCD under the control of the Delhi government,” said Om Prakash Kohli, the party’s Delhi unit president.

“The Congress has been trying to find an excuse to get control of the civic body for a long time but we will not allow it to happen,” he said.

The members of the committee are Alok Kumar (chairman), leader of MCD house Subhash Arya, Arti Mehra, Vijendra Gupta, Jagdish Mamgain, RP Singh and Aman Sinha.

“The committee will try to ascertain what are the implications of the government’s move and to what degree will it change the functioning of the MCD. Also, if transferred to the Delhi government, will it help in better co-ordination or worse?” Kohli said.

Will the move amount to undue intervention by the Delhi government in local self-governance, is another question the body will consider, Kohli asked.

According to the BJP, the committee submit the report within a week’s time.

“The state government is unable to run the affairs of those departments under its control, yet it wants to get control of the MCD,” the party’s Delhi unit president said.

The Delhi government claims that by controlling the MCD, there will be better coordination between the state and the civic body, resulting in efficiency in the working of the civic body, he added.

“But there is no basis for both the claims of the Delhi chief minister. These arguments are only to mislead the people,” said Kohli.

According to the BJP, the Delhi government’s attempt to get the control of the MCD will limit the autonomy of local bodies and increase political interference in its working.

Mayor Kanwar Sain said te panel will studywhether the party should move court over the issue.

“This committee will react as to whether we should approach the court regarding the issue. Also, as there are lawyers in the committee they will be able to offer us advice on the issue. The committee will also take up the issue with senior BJP leaders,” said Mayor Sain.