AAP questions MCD action over House vandalism seeks probe into earlier incidents

New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday questioned the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) proposed action against councillors for vandalism in the House, claiming that its Code of Conduct Committee had not held any meeting to discuss the matter.

     MCD Leader of Opposition (LoP) Ankush Narang welcomed the proposed action but demanded that it begin with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was a councillor when the previous House was in session, followed by former LoP Raja Iqbal Singh.

     Addressing a press conference, Narang questioned how a report on the vandalism during the October 22 House proceedings could have been submitted when the committee had not met since the incident.

     Mayor Pravesh Wahi responded to allegations, saying that AAP councillors were not interested in working and just wanted to create a ruckus in the House.

     "AAP is rattled because of all the development work happening in Delhi, whether it is cleaning of Yamuna or the sanitation work being done. They are only interested in disturbing House proceedings," Wahi said.

     Narang also sought an explanation from Wahi on the basis for the proposed action, including the registration of FIRs and recovery of compensation from those responsible for damaging property.

     "If the MCD is going to take action against those who vandalised the House, we welcome it. But the MCD must first take action against those from the earlier House," Narang said.

     He claimed that video footage from January 2023 showed Gupta, who was then a councillor, breaking two microphones during a House meeting. He also alleged that several microphones were damaged during Singh's tenure as LoP.

     Narang said AAP councillors were ready to pay compensation if they were found responsible for damaging property, but action should be taken against everyone involved, irrespective of their political affiliation.

     "We demand that action be taken against those who vandalised the House, but first, an FIR must be registered against Rekha Gupta and the money recovered from her. Then an FIR must be registered against Raja Iqbal Singh.

     "After that, come to me and recover the money from me," he said.

     Narang also alleged that BJP councillors had once brought a speaker into the House and danced, accusing the ruling party of turning the proceedings into a spectacle.

     He questioned the basis of the proposed action and reiterated that the proceedings should cover incidents dating back to the beginning of the current municipal House's term in January 2023.

     Raising the issue of air pollution, the AAP leader alleged that Delhi's air quality had deteriorated under the BJP government and claimed that pollution levels had crossed the AQI mark of 500 on several occasions.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)