Gidderbaha AAP MLA, Punjab Congress president spar over stalled works under MC

A fresh war of words has broken out between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Gidderbaha Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who previously represented the Gidderbaha constituency for three terms before being elected the MP from Ludhiana last year.

Dimpy, on Thursday, publicly accused the local Congress-led municipal council of deliberately stalling development projects in the town due to political rivalry. “I went and appealed to the municipal council president, asking him not to let political grudges affect public welfare. I even told him to take credit for the foundation stones. But he replied that he would act only on Raja Warring’s instructions. As a result, six months have been wasted. Otherwise, streets would have been constructed by now. I am now trying to make alternate arrangements,” Dimpy said.

Responding to the allegations on Friday, Raja Warring hit back sharply. “They (AAP leaders) talk about 12 years versus 2.5 years and raise slogans, but the people of Gidderbaha know the ground reality. AAP leaders keep making excuses. The Chief Minister is theirs, the government is theirs – then why the excuses? The works related to the Gidderbaha Municipal Council require a resolution, which includes consultation with all MC members and the council president. If this process is bypassed, how can any work be justified?” he said, while going live on Facebook.

Warring also questioned the status of several previously announced projects. “What happened to the Malwa canal work and the 15-day sewerage promises? If I am not wrong, only Rs 70 lakh has been allocated for Gidderbaha town’s works after the bypoll. The CM should fulfill the promises made, release the funds and work in coordination with local authorities,” he added.

Punjab