Phagwara mayor occupies civic body office ‘illegally’
PHAGWARA: Phagwara mayor Arun Khosla has landed himself in another controversy by ‘illegally’ occupying the office of municipal commissioner here on Wednesday. After the state government reshuffled the officers last week, Bakhtawar Singh assumed the charge of municipal corporation (MC) commissioner on Wednesday. As per the sources, mayor Khosla had already placed his nameplate outside his office and was working there.
Following it, the municipal corporation commissioner immediately filed a complaint with the additional chief secretary against the mayor.
In his complaint, Singh wrote that the mayor and his followers are occupying his office illegally and mayor should be held responsible if any government file is stolen. Sources said that the mayor refused to vacate the office even after the intervention of the local administration officials and Congress councillors.
“I was forced to operate from the circuit house on my first day,” Singh said. Mayor Khosla, said “The room belongs to MC. Former MC commissioners were given this room temporarily.”
The matter was sorted out after sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Jyoti Bala along with local police and councillors held a meeting with the mayor and commissioner. The commissioner was given another room. Meanwhile, the Congress councillors protested against the mayor accusing him of misusing his powers.
Earlier, the Congress had sought resignation of mayor Arun Khosla, after his name was highlighted in a kidney scam last week, following a revelation made by the racket accused before Mumbai Police that his daughter was one of the recipients of a kidney.
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Phagwara BJP MLA Som Parkash, said that the matter could have been solved amicably but SDM Jyoti Bala deliberately made it a ‘big’ issue.
“Bala forcibly entered the mayor’s room along with police and ordered him to vacate the office. SDM cannot interfere in the official working of the MC,” Prakash said.
SDM, however, refuted the claims of the MLA “I came to the MC office to request the mayor so that the new MC commissioner could assume charge. I have not recommended any police action against the mayor but only wanted to ensure law and order,” she said.
Last month, Som Prakash had alleged that Bala is working as a Congress member when she recommended a police inquiry against BJP workers for carrying out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ and also inaugurated an under construction multi-storey parking.