BJP,Cong workers clash over sewerage facility in East Delhi

Officials said around 3.30 pm,Irrigation and Flood Control Minister A K Walia was in Jagat Ram Park to lay the foundation stone of a sewage line.

Leader of the House,East Municipal Corporation,B B Tyagi said Walia’s supporters had put up a stage near his residence. Tyagi said the area residents came to the spot to voice their grievance against poor sewerage facility in the area.

“The residents held black flags and were complaining against the non-serious attitude of the government towards the welfare of the colony. The project (which Walia was to inaugurate) is only of Rs 1.3 crore and the residents registered their protest over the low budget for improving the sewage systems. They told Walia that this budget will not suffice to lay sewage line even in one lane. Soon,Walia’s supporters started throwing chairs and resorted to violence against those who were protesting,” Tyagi said.

But Walia claimed that no resident was involved in the violence and it was triggered by Tyagi’s supporters.

“I received the information that a few people will create violence in the area. I rang up the area SHO and told him to increase the security. I called the SHO again before arriving at the venue. When I reached the spot,my security told me to stay back. I saw the BJP councillor’s men attacking the Congress party workers. And it was that time that police intervened,” Walia said.

Both Congress and BJP party workers were injured in the incident. They have been sent to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital for MLC.

“BJP councillor’s supporters came and showed black flags,They resorted to violence,injuring several of our party workers,” a Congress party worker said.

Police have registered a case of rioting and damage to public property and five persons have been named in the FIR. No arrests have been made so far.

Meanwhile,earlier in the day,Walia laid the foundation stone for widening of the existing bridge across Trunk Drain No-1 at Karkari More,which falls in Vishwas Nagar constituency of East Delhi.