Two councillors among 5 BJP leaders booked for ‘misbehaving’ with Ludhiana Mayor Inderjit Kaur

The accused are BJP councillors Gauravjeet Singh Gora (ward number 80) and Mukesh Khatri (ward number 76) as well as Kulwant Singh Kanti (husband of Kuldeep Kaur, councillor from ward number 33), Vishal Gulati (husband of Ruchi Gulati, councillor from ward number 73), and Jatinder Gorayan (husband of Ruby, councillor from ward number 17).

However, the BJP councillors have alleged that Kaur “misbehaved” with them and that they were forced out of her office. They had alleged that Kaur was “biased” in her approach and “doesn’t pay heed to the pending civic issues in the wards” represented by councillors from Opposition parties.

On the other hand, Inderjit Kaur, a first-time mayor from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has alleged that the “reality was opposite”. She claimed that she did not misbehave with any BJP councillor and that it was them who had “started shouting during the peaceful meeting and created ruckus”. She has said that she listens and resolves pending issues of all councillors irrespective of their party.

Opposition demands apology from mayor

Demanding an “unconditional apology” from the mayor, BJP councillors and workers have started an indefinite protest against the mayor at the Zone D office.

On Saturday, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) councillors also supported the BJP councillors and joined their protest demanding an apology from the mayor. Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma also joined the protest. The sit-in will continue till the “respect” of the councillors is restored and the mayor tenders an unconditional apology, he said.

Kaur has refused to apologise and said that she is the one who deserves an apology.

Sharma, meanwhile, said the ruling AAP “cannot escape” from resolving civic issues of the common people and that it was the responsibility of the elected councillors to question the mayor if works were not being done.

The FIR has been registered under the sections 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of their duties), 132 (assault or using criminal force against public servant), 126 (4) (wrongful constraint), and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on a complaint filed by Assistant Sub-Inspector Saudagar Singh.

Singh said in his complaint that he was deputed at the Zone D office on August 1, when the BJP councillors who came to meet the mayor “created hooliganism” and “blocked her way when she tried to move out”. He further said that the “BJP councillors obstructed the mayor in performing her public duty”.

Dr Satish Kumar, a spokesperson for the BJP’s Ludhiana unit, said, “The indefinite sit-in at Zone D will continue until the mayor tenders an apology for misbehaving with our councillors who had gone to her only to discuss pending works of the people. It is the mayor’s duty to answer why garbage piles aren’t being lifted or why roads are waterlogged. Such FIRs are not going to scare us. The Congress and SAD councillors are also supporting us.’’