Ruckus mars rare Town Hall meeting

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s House meeting at the nearly 150-year-old city landmark, Town Hall, was adjourned on Thursday following allegations of corruption against BJP mayor and Congress’ Leader of Opposition, as well non-payment of pensions to the beneficiaries.

This was the first House meeting after four years at the Town Hall, that used to be the headquarter of the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Ruckus ensued after a letter was presented in the meeting which alleged that Congress councillor Mukesh Goel took bribe for allowing illegal construction in his ward.

The accusations are allegedly made on the letterhead of former Congress MLA Mangat Ram Singhal. To which Goel said: “I am ready for enquiry. I won’t be blackmailed by corrupt mayor.”

“The North Delhi mayor is allowing illegal construction in connivance with building mafia.”

North Corporation Mayor Ravinder Gupta denied the allegations. “I will quit if the allegations are proved,” he said. “How would we know what’s going on, his (Goel’s) party leader has made the accusations,” said Gupta.

Goel demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. “Everybody knows I have political rivalry with Singhal. The part gave ticket to me to fight Assembly elections instead of him. So they (BJP councillors) are trying to exploit this fact,” Goel said.

Congress councillors came near the well of the House and raised slogans against BJP. They alleged that the civic agency is indulging in wasteful expenditures by holding meeting at the Town Hall.

“The corporation does not have funds to pay salaries and pension on time or at all. But it has money to hold meeting in Town Hall,” said Goel.

Amid the uproar the meeting was adjourned for 10 minutes. But soon after it was resumed the pandemonium continued and mayor adjourned the House meeting in just over half an hour.