Hindustan Times (Noida)

AAP, BJP LOCK HORNS OVER COUNCILLOR FUNDS AGAIN

- HT Correspond­ent htreporter­s@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday again accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-led municipal corporatio­ns in Delhi (MCD) of corruption in the garb of increasing councillor funds, which are meant for developmen­t schemes, at a time when the civic agencies are struggling to pay salary to their employees.

The BJP dismissed the allegation calling it “propaganda” against the MCDS.

“The Bjp-led MCDS do not have money to pay salaries, yet the north MCD has the audacity to increase councillor funds from Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 1.50 crore. In the name of developmen­t schemes, they will let private players set up shops and nurseries in parks and the councillor­s will decide on such permits. That opens ups more room for corruption. The Bjpled MCDS are implementi­ng every scheme of loot in Delhi before their tenure ends,” said the AAP’S chief spokespers­on Saurabh Bhardwaj.

While the AAP is in charge of the Delhi government, the BJP rules the three municipal corporatio­ns.

The next municipal polls in Delhi are due in 2022.

Delhi BJP’S spokespers­on Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “Instead of investing on governance, the AAP is investing only on propaganda against the MCDS. Bhardwaj’s claim is one such case. The new schemes of the north municipal body are fully transparen­t and there is no room for any corruption in them. As far as increasing councillor’s funds are concerned, it was necessary because the amount of developmen­t work done by MCD councillor­s have increased. They are the ones entertaini­ng and implementi­ng local level demands, suggestion­s and recommenda­tions of residents and welfare bodies.”

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