‘Blatant discrimination’: Mohali Mayor says AAP blocking development works in Congress-led wards

However, after the AAP government took charge in 2022, Sidhu alleged that all such works were halted. “Every proposal sent for society development was rejected by the Local Government Department. Officials were even warned that if such proposals were sent again, they would be charge-sheeted,” he claimed.

Despite this, the Mayor said that in the last MC House meeting, AAP councillor Sukhdev Singh Patwari whose ward includes multiple societies asked him to bring a proposal for society works. A similar proposal was submitted for Congress councillor Vineet Malik, who lives in Pancham Society and has other societies in his ward.

“What is shocking,” Sidhu said, “is that Patwari’s proposal was approved, but Malik’s was rejected even though expenditure in Patwari’s ward is nearly three times higher. About Rs 97 lakh has been sanctioned for his ward, while only Rs 34 lakh was proposed for Malik’s.”

Sidhu alleged that this “selective favouritism” was being done at the behest of local MLA Kulwant Singh. He said the MLA had earlier played a role in excluding important areas from Mohali’s municipal limits, a matter he had already raised in the House. “This proves that my allegations about the MLA blocking development in Congress-led wards were absolutely correct,” he said.

He added that AAP supporters also live in Congress wards, and such “petty politics” would ultimately backfire. “People are watching. The MLA will face public anger, and the coming Assembly elections will reflect it,” the Mayor said.

On demands from residents of Guru Nanak Colony to be included in the Mohali MC, Sidhu said the area should indeed be added. “They had submitted objections and were also called for a hearing by the Local Government Department. But they were ignored. A proper survey should be conducted and the area must be added to MC limits,” he said.