“The Municipal Corporation cannot be treated as a slave. The UT Administration should not unnecessarily interfere in the functioning of the civic body. How harmonious are the relations among officials of the Administration?” thundered Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Bansal at the House Meet of the Municipal Corporation on Friday.

The outburst was a reaction to a letter sent by UT Home Secretary to the civic body directing it to discuss the misconduct of Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla. Last December, several MC officials had complained against Babla for allegedly misbehaving with Municipal Commissioner Dr Roshan Sunkaria.

The Home Secretary’s letter, quoting observations of the UT Administrator, stated: “The MC is supposed to work in an environment of healthy debate and there is no case for rude behaviour on any one’s part. I feel this is not conducive for the harmonious functioning of the civic body and suggest there should be a debate on the subject so that decorum of the House is kept intact.”

Bansal said: “Agenda of this sort should not have been brought to the House. If there is a difference of opinion, there should be a proper way of sorting out things. Do we need advice from them? The corporation should be allowed to exercise its powers.” He added, “It seems that rather than solving the issue, the Administration is trying to spoil relations. Instead of maintaining good relations with the MC, the Administration officials are indulging in fights.”

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