Councillors demand public debate on MCD split

BJP state president Vijender Gupta,who is also a councillor,said even the MCD has not been consulted. “There are no public debates,and even the MCD has not been consulted. So,the entire process is undemocratic,” he said. Members of the Congress as well as the BJP say that the government is not going by the 74th Constitutional Amendment,which states that municipal bodies should be empowered,and is — instead — taking away many of its powers,including those pertaining to transport,electricity and water.

Commenting on the Delhi government,MCD Leader of the House Subhash Arya said,“Keeping in view all the limitations of limited statehood,the BJP has been demanding full statehood for Delhi for more than two decades.” He said the corporation should not be changed in any manner until Delhi is given full statehood.

Arya alleged that the Delhi government’s proposal is a political gimmick and the new structure would have several issues related to the leadership of the house. “In the proposed setup,the Commissioner and Chief Commissioner would be answerable to the Chief Minister alone. But,in the present set-up,the Commissioner is answerable to the Mayor,MCD and the Standing Committee,” he added.