AAP alleges graft by north civic body mayor

THE PARTY RELEASED A LETTER PURPORTEDLY WRITTEN BY A NORTH BODY OFFICIAL DEMANDING FIR IN CASE

NEWDELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday released a letter purportedly written by an official of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, recommending registration of an FIR against mayor, Preeti Aggarwal, over alleged corruption in a project to help a particular bidder.

Aggarwal said the AAP was propagating false allegations to tarnish her image.

AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey told newsmen that the letter had details on how on November 13, 2017, the mayor allegedly barged into a room where technical evaluation for a project was on.She was accompanied by the bidder and she demanded papers be shifted to her room, Pandey said quoting the letter.

The party has demanded a CBI probe in the matter and asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power in all three municipal corporations, to remove Aggarwal from her post.

“The letter clearly proves that the upright officer was miffed with her and had written to the commissioner of North MCD recommending FIR against her for trying to influence the tender process. The official (whose name we are upholding) also sought a transfer as he could not work under her,” Pandey said.

According to some media reports published last week, mayor Aggarwal, who assumed charge last year, is facing bribery charges over civil contracts. Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal had ordered a vigilance inquiry after a complaint by a Supreme Court lawyer. Aggarwal termed the charges baseless and accused AAP of maligning her image.

“Despite evidence of her corruption, she is not being removed. BJP is clearly shielding her,” Pandey said. The complaints against Agarwal, according to the AAP, include irregularities in awarding contracts and interference in the purchases and transfers of officials in the corporation.

In response to the allegations, Aggarwal challenged the AAP to prove the allegation or else apologise. She said she was being targeted deliberately because she had launched a campaign against corrupt officials in the corporation.

“I am fighting against corruption by certain officials and have written to several senior agencies since May 2017 and such officials have connived with AAP leaders to frame false allegations against me,” she said

“AAP is anti-woman party. Arvind Kejriwal does not allow representation of women in his party and he is maligning my image to weaken women leadership in Delhi. I will sue them (AAP) if they do not apologise,” she said.