1 underbridge,2 ceremonies,2 Cong claimants

The rivalry reached such proportions on Sunday that Marwah’s supporters poured black paint on the foundation stone laid by Tajdar Babar,Vice-Chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council,and Municipal Corporation of Delhi Commissioner K S Mehra,who were invited by Suri. The guest list also included Ashwani Lohani,Divisional Railway Manager of the Northern Railways.

On Saturday,the MCD sent out invitations for the foundation stone-laying ceremony at Siddarth Nagar,which will be connected to Jangpura B Block via the underbridge. The invitation,made at the request of area councillor Farhad Suri,left out Marwah,the area’s MLA.

Marwah’s supporters went on a rampage the same day,destroying hoardings put up by Suri and breaking the pedestal on which the stone was to be laid. One of MCD’s assistant engineers lodged a complaint at the Sunlight Colony police station,seeking security for Sunday’s ceremony.

The next day,the ceremony commenced under tight police surveillance. Later that day,Marwah and his supporters arrived at the spot. The MLA broke a coconut in front of the stone and burnt crackers to celebrate the “actual” foundation stone-laying ceremony.

Suri told Newsline on Monday that the project had been planned and executed by the MCD — it was therefore the civic body’s prerogative to decide whom to invite. “Marwah is misinformed if he thinks the Delhi government is doing it,” he said. On the issue of inviting Marwah,Suri said,“MCD protocol says for the laying of a foundation stone,it is mandatory to invite the Mayor as he is the first citizen. Other than that,it is upto the area councillor to decide whom to invite.”

In 2008,the MCD had written to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) about building an underbridge at the spot. Later,it wrote to the Railways seeking permission to build the structure. A proposal was then made and a budget of Rs 29.8 crore was allocated.

Marwah on Monday said he had written to the Lieutenant-Governor,the Home Ministry and the Prime Minister on how the civic body has taken credit for the underbridge. “The Delhi government provides funds to the MCD,so it is Delhi government’s project.”