AAP carrying out ‘businessmen harassment campaign’ in name of anti-encroachment drive: Delhi BJP

The AAP in its response to the allegations argued that till today, before the MCD got its mayor, deputy mayor and other office-bearers, the civic body was still being ruled directly by the Central government through the Lieutenant Governor, the MCD’s Special Officer and Commissioner.

“AAP councillors have won most of the major business market wards in the last municipal elections and now they want business organisations to come to their doorstep. Under their pressure, officers of all the 12 zonal offices of the MCD have given notices to traders for cleanliness and maintenance of shops, among other issues,” Kapoor alleged.

“From issues related to sanitation, size of the shop’s board, conversion charge, encroachment or renovation in the shop – thousands of notices have been issued in the last one and half months. Till the other day, AAP spokespersons used to shout about the interests of traders but are sitting silently today,” he further said. Kapoor added that they would raise this issue in the MCD House Wednesday.

The polls were on hold after the issue of voting rights for members nominated to the MCD House reached the Supreme Court last week. Last Friday, the apex court upheld the prohibition on voting rights for such nominated members, or aldermen, following which the internal polls have been scheduled Wednesday.

“The MCD and its officers are totally controlled by the BJP’s Centre and its LG. Every big inauguration of MCD is being done by LG. The Central government desperately tried to continue its control of the MCD,” the AAP stated in response.

“Now, after the rap by the Supreme Court, the MCD will soon have a Mayor and an AAP government. All this harassment by the BJP will come to an end. All these corrupt practices of the BJP will come to an end,” it added.