The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP accuses Delhi Mayor of misusing his position

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 24, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

BJP accuses Delhi Mayor of misusing his position

Staff Reporter

"Saved Congress Councillor from being prosecuted by the CBI"

Delhi BJP Chief Harsh Vardhan (right) along with members of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha protesting against the Mayor in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

NEW DELHI: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused Delhi Mayor Farhad Suri of misusing his position to save Congress Councillor Ashok Jain from being prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a corruption case even as his own party members distanced themselves from the controversy by stating that it was Mr. Suri's own decision as Mayor and the Congress party had nothing to do with it.

In a heated discussion held in the MCD House on the issue, BJP members alleged that corruption had increased in the Congress-ruled civic body and now it was shielding another corrupt councillor caught red-handed by CBI. Demanding Mr. Suri's resignation on the issue, all BJP councillors boycotted the House proceedings. They also raised the issue of alleged corruption in the Ghogha dairy project and demanded a CBI probe into it.

Leader of the Opposition Subhash Arya said the step taken by Mr. Suri was unprecedented as no former Mayor had ruled in favour of any corrupt councillor. Alleging that this had been done under pressure from senior Congress leaders, Mr. Arya said: "In its inquiry, the CBI has found Mr. Jain guilty. The Congress councillor was caught red-handed taking a bribe of Rs.1 lakh from a builder at his Bazar Sitaram office two years ago, but still the Mayor has refused the CBI a go-ahead to prosecute him." Similarly, senior Opposition councillors Vijender Gupta, Arti Mehra and Onkar Singh Thapar said that by shielding a corrupt councillor Mr. Suri had misused his powers as Mayor and failed to work as per the law. "The Congress has been exposed. Its leaders talk of removing corruption, but in reality all its projects and works are mired in controversy," Mr. Gupta charged.

However, Leader of House Jitender Kochar said all the allegations levelled by the BJP were "politically motivated" and the Congress was firm on removing corruption from the civic body. About Mr. Jain, he said the Congress had no role in disallowing the CBI to take action against Mr. Jain. "A proposal in this regard has neither been brought by the MCD nor by the party. In this case, Mr. Suri has used his powers as Mayor," he added.

Reacting to the entire discussion, Mr. Suri said his was a "conscious decision" taken on "substantial grounds" after reading Mr. Jain's file submitted by the CBI thoroughly. "I stand by my decision and am ready to face any consequence if found guilty," the Mayor added.

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