Mayor Preety Agarwal's 1st House session marked by ruckus
Agarwal, a first-time councillor (Rohini-F ward), was elected unopposed as the North Delhi mayor.
New Delhi: The first House of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) mayor Preety Agarwal on Thursday witnessed chaotic scenes with the Opposition alleging protocol violation for letting in “BJP supporters” who chanted “Modi, Modi” and “Jai Shri Ram”.
Ms Agarwal, a first-time councillor (Rohini-F ward), was elected unopposed as the North Delhi mayor.
The uproar started soon after the new mayor took charge as Opposition members objected to the entry of “unauthorised” person in the House and allotment of office space. The Leader of the Opposition, a second time AAP councillor, Rakesh Kumar, and several Congress councillors alleged that many BJP supporters had entered the House unauthorisedly and disturbed the proceedings by chanting “Modi, Modi” and “Jai Shri Ram”. “It was a failure and mismanagement on the part of the municipal authorities. How could outsiders enter the House, when there is a strict regulation?” said Mr Kumar.
“On top of that, the mayor, after assuming charge had nearly dismissed the House, before the Leader of the Opposition could address. It was only after a senior BJP leader timely reminded her that the Leader of the Opposition has not spoken, that I could make my speech,” Mr Kumar told reporters.
The AAP councillor from Ajmeri Gate further alleged that Ms Agarwal is “not aware of the House protocol” and is “incompetent” of discharging her duties as a mayor.
The Congress members have also sparred with the new mayor, alleging that their party was being deliberately ignored. Malka Ganj councillor Guddi Devi claimed the Congress party had to beg to authorities to get a room in the Civic Centre office.
The AAP and the Congress condemned the “protocol violations”, saying the House should be used to discuss listed matters only and any political activity should not be allowed.
Several outsiders had crowded the corridors of the House, which took place in a meeting hall of the Civic Centre, the headquarters of the NDMC. Many also made a bid to enter the hall forcibly, before being warded off by security personnel.