Chaos in MCD over regularisation of 12K contract staff
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House descended into chaos on Thursday over the contentious issue of regularising 12,000 contractual employees, leading to heated exchanges, slogan-shouting and the House being adjourned amid scenes of disorder.
The ruckus erupted moments after the session began, as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors, led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Ankush Narang, vociferously demanded immediate regularisation of the workers.
Accusing the BJP-led MCD of being “anti-Dalit” and ignoring the interests of sanitation and contractual workers, AAP councillors raised slogans inside the chamber, prompting Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
Addressing the House, Narang said, “When the AAP was in power, we passed a proposal to regularise 12,000 contractual employees and allocated Rs 800 crore in the budget for their salaries and retirement benefits. But now, the BJP-led MCD refuses to implement it.”
Narang alleged that the BJP’s so-called “four-engine government” — referring to the party’s rule at the Centre, in Delhi L-G office, state government and now the MCD — is deliberately denying basic rights to Dalit employees. “Let the BJP take credit, but at least regularise the workers. What is stopping the Mayor from instructing the Commissioner to implement it?”
Narang also hit out at the BJP’s conduct during AAP’s tenure in the MCD. “Back then, the BJP repeatedly disrupted the House and prevented it from functioning. But now when we raise a genuine demand, the House is shut down.”
Following the disruption, Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh accused the Opposition of deliberately stalling proceedings. “AAP councillors disrupted the House only to halt important public welfare decisions. These sessions are held monthly for councillors to raise ward issues, but the AAP is only interested in creating disorder,” Singh said.
He added that despite being in power for just two months, the BJP-led MCD had already achieved a record in desilting work, removing 1.4 lakh metric tonnes of silt so far this year — nearly double of last year’s 77,000 metric tonnes. “Their theatrics won’t stop us from serving the people. If needed, we’ll call a special session,” he said.
Mayor Singh also announced a major reform aimed at boosting Ease of Doing Business — the end of “Inspector Raj” in the factory license renewal process. Under the new system, factory licenses in notified industrial areas will now be linked directly to property tax, with owners paying five per cent of their annual property tax as license fee. “This is a big relief for industries, but even this reform was opposed by the AAP,” he claimed.
Delhi