BJP appeals to MCD workers to end strike

New Delhi: BJP on Sunday appealed to sanitation workers and medical staff of MCD to end their strike in the "larger interest of the people of Delhi" or, at least, modify the nature of protest to ensure basic sanitation and health services.

In a letter addressed to various staff unions, BJP Delhi Pradesh President Satish Upadhyay said his party "understands the problems faced by the staff and has all sympathy for them".

"But, in the larger interest of Delhi, it is important that we ensure no epidemic strikes the city," he said. Upadhyay said BJP Mayors and leaders are trying to work out a solution but due to "political vengeance", the Delhi government is not ready to release municipal funds despite orders from the High Court.

Reacting to comments of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia about municipal bodies, Upadhyay said ministers of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government "should have this basic knowledge that in municipal bodies, all expenses are incurred by government officials, while Mayors and councillors have no financial power".

Asserting that municipal accounts are always accessible for inspection, Upadhyay "challenged" the Delhi government to make public the list of hundreds of AAP volunteers who, he claimed, have been enrolled in Delhi government's co-terminus jobs, along with their salaries.

He also challenged the Delhi government to put out lists of AAP volunteers on whom "crores of rupees" have been spent during the odd-even road rationing scheme trial and in other government functions in the past year.

North Delhi Mayor Ravindra Gupta and his East Delhi counterpart Harsh Malhotra - both from the BJP - today issued the last four years' data of "non-plan funds" received by the municipal bodies, along with the amount spent on paying salaries.

The two Mayors said these figures reflect that municipal bodies have been facing financial crunch for long the basic reason being that money from sales tax, property registration and excise goes to the Delhi government, while MCDs have to realise property tax and octroi which is not an easy job.