New Delhi: Questioning how an unbiased probe could be conducted against North MCD mayor Preety Agarwal till she remains on the post, the Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday demanded her removal from the post till the probe is completed. The party demanded a CBI probe into the corruption charges against her in connection with the alleged irregularities in tendering process. The party also demanded that BJP president Manoj Tiwari should issue an apology to the public.
Reacting to a report published in this newspaper, AAP’s national spokesperson Dilip Pandey said that the AAP had some days back alleged that the North Delhi mayor had tried to influence a corporation’s tender process. Delhi BJP chief Tiwari had talked about a new face of the corporations, but as expected the ugly face of corruption plaguing the corporations has just begun to get exposed.
On the complaint of a Supreme Court lawyer, the lieutenant-governor has ordered a vigilance probe into the matter. The mayor tried to interfere in the tender process last November, completely ignoring the rules and regulations. The additional commissioner also levied charges on Ms Agarwal, who was later embarrassed by her and sent to the Delhi government. It is alleged that the mayor took 10 per cent commission of the entire tender.
“The mayor held the tender process till she received her cut. Apart from this, the mayor has her commission fixed out of every tender process that takes place in the North Delhi municipal corporation and until she gets that she puts the files on hold,” Mr Pandey said.
Now how can an independent probe be expected in the matter by a Vigilance Commissioner who works directly under the mayor? The AAP demands that may be made an independent investigation on this issue and the Mayor should be immediately removed from her post.
