Civic body leaders pulled up over graft

New Delhi: Allegations of corruption in three BJP-ruled municipal corporations in the national capital has reportedly being brought to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party central leadership. BJP national general secretary (organisation) Ramlal and state unit chief Manoj Tiwari recently pulled up top leaders of the municipal bodies over allegations of corruption. 

Sources said stern warning has been issued to corporation leaders to strictly follow Prime Minister Mr Modi’s policy of “zero tolerance” against corruption. 

They were told that the central leadership was keeping a close tab on their day-today functioning. Recently, before Mr Ramlal’s meeting with the civic leadership, leader of opposition and AAP councillor in North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Rakesh Kumar, citing news report, alleged that chairman standing committee Tilak Raj Kataria had issued an order appointing his wife as a consultant in the civic body. 

According to a Delhi BJP insider, after these allegation and several irregularities came in notice of central leadership and the Prime Minister, on the direction of Mr Ramlal, an emergency meeting was called on Friday night at the state unit headquarters. All the three mayors, chairman of standing committee and leader of house were summoned in the meeting. 

“Mr Ramlal had sought explanation from Mr Kataria and others about the irregularities. Using strong words, Mr Ramlal warned them not to divert from party policy of corruption free administration, which was also promised during civic polls held in April,” he said.

Sources claimed that the top leadership of municipal corporations was also informed that Prime Minister Modi and party president Amit Shah are closely monitoring the functioning of civic bodies and they except them to deliver clean administration.

“A daily report about functioning and decision taken will be sent to the Prime Minister and party president. A close monitoring will done by top officials to ensure it functions properly, especially in financial dealing and tender process,” they said.