The Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JMC) is steadily turning into a political battlefield between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP.

The rival parties have locked horns over an issue of Rs 400 crore-development grant, which was announced earlier by the BJP leaders during the JMC election. The Congress won the election and the said amount was never released.

According to Mayor Satish Ahir, as soon as the Congress demanded the grant from the state government’s department concerned — after taking charge of the body — they received a reply stating that the grant wasn’t meant for JMC only, but for the development of seven other state corporations.

The Mayor was also told that the grant will be issued later and the JMC will get its share accordingly.

“During the JMC election campaign, the state BJP leadership had publicly announced a development package, which included Rs 400 crore budgetary allocation and Rs 600 crore special development package for Junagadh,” he said.

“Now the BJP has taken a U-turn. The party had made a false announcement to lure voters. It has cheated the people once again,” he added.

He openly challenged the BJP leaders for a public debate on the issue.

“We are ready to discuss the issue in public at any venue of the party’s choice.

We ask the BJP to declare the date and time for the same. The incident clearly shows that unless the BJP is voted to power, no grants will ever be released,” the Mayor added.

... contd.