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The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has decided to avoid confrontation with the State Government over declaration of holiday on the occasion of Chhath on November 1 that is on Tuesday. Municipal Commissioner KS Mehra on Monday sent the file pertaining to the issue to Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna for arbitration. With the development, declaration for holiday by the ruling BJP in the MCD has taken a political turn as Congress on Monday alleged eyeing civic body polls in April next year; the decision was taken by the BJP to woo poorvanchalis residing in large numbers in Delhi.
A senior official of the MCD said that as asked by the Delhi Mayor Rajni Abbi, the file for consent in this regard had been sent by the Municipal Commissioner to the L-G on Monday afternoon and now he would take a call. He further said despite its autonomous status, the MCD is governed by the rules of Central Government and L-G is the only authority to take such decision, the civic agency has no power to declare holiday
on its own. “MCD has no power to make such declaration and the section of Delhi Municipal Act quoted by the councillors in the special House meeting was irrelevant. There is no such rule; civic body cannot announce a holiday in this manner. File is now with the L-G, he will decide,” he said. Though sources in the L-G office told The Pioneer that as Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dik**** had not recommended, the L-G had already rejected the request.
Earlier, in the special House meeting called by the MCD to discuss the matter, former Delhi mayor Farhad Suri alleged ruling BJP had been misguiding the House by citing section 42 of the DM Act.
“No provision or section of DM Act allows MCD to declare a holiday in this manner. The section 42 has nothing to do with the holiday announcement,” he said. Suri said though the Congress is not against the move (declaring a holiday for Chhath), it would not allow BJP to get political mileage out of it.
“During the last four and half years’ rule in the MCD, BJP has never talked about the holiday on Chhath. Why was the announcement made by the BJP this year just before the civic body election,” Leader of Opposition in MCD Jai Kishan Sharma said, adding that the decision taken by the Mayor was utterly unconstitutional. However, Delhi BJP Chief and councillor from Rohini Vijender Gupta said the ruckus created by the Congress in the House had proved the party is anti-poorvanchalis.
“The resistance showed by the Congress in the House shows that the party is against the poorvanchalis and their sentiments. It is a matter of respect and self-esteem of 40 lakh people living in the Capital. It is a matter of their faith and belief. It is the matter of social justice and equality; they have been contributing for the society. I do not understand why Congress is opposing,” he said.
Gupta further said the House has passed a resolution in this regard with majority and if Municipal Commissioner violates it will lead to constitutional trouble. Meanwhile Delhi Revenue Minister Dr AK Walia on Monday was convinced the issue of declaring Chhath, a holiday is being politicised. “There should be no politicisation of religious affairs. The attempt is totally uncalled for,” he said.
A senior official of the MCD said that as asked by the Delhi Mayor Rajni Abbi, the file for consent in this regard had been sent by the Municipal Commissioner to the L-G on Monday afternoon and now he would take a call. He further said despite its autonomous status, the MCD is governed by the rules of Central Government and L-G is the only authority to take such decision, the civic agency has no power to declare holiday
on its own. “MCD has no power to make such declaration and the section of Delhi Municipal Act quoted by the councillors in the special House meeting was irrelevant. There is no such rule; civic body cannot announce a holiday in this manner. File is now with the L-G, he will decide,” he said. Though sources in the L-G office told The Pioneer that as Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dik**** had not recommended, the L-G had already rejected the request.
Earlier, in the special House meeting called by the MCD to discuss the matter, former Delhi mayor Farhad Suri alleged ruling BJP had been misguiding the House by citing section 42 of the DM Act.
“No provision or section of DM Act allows MCD to declare a holiday in this manner. The section 42 has nothing to do with the holiday announcement,” he said. Suri said though the Congress is not against the move (declaring a holiday for Chhath), it would not allow BJP to get political mileage out of it.
“During the last four and half years’ rule in the MCD, BJP has never talked about the holiday on Chhath. Why was the announcement made by the BJP this year just before the civic body election,” Leader of Opposition in MCD Jai Kishan Sharma said, adding that the decision taken by the Mayor was utterly unconstitutional. However, Delhi BJP Chief and councillor from Rohini Vijender Gupta said the ruckus created by the Congress in the House had proved the party is anti-poorvanchalis.
“The resistance showed by the Congress in the House shows that the party is against the poorvanchalis and their sentiments. It is a matter of respect and self-esteem of 40 lakh people living in the Capital. It is a matter of their faith and belief. It is the matter of social justice and equality; they have been contributing for the society. I do not understand why Congress is opposing,” he said.
Gupta further said the House has passed a resolution in this regard with majority and if Municipal Commissioner violates it will lead to constitutional trouble. Meanwhile Delhi Revenue Minister Dr AK Walia on Monday was convinced the issue of declaring Chhath, a holiday is being politicised. “There should be no politicisation of religious affairs. The attempt is totally uncalled for,” he said.
