BJP mayors up in arms against Nath govt

Bhopal: Twelve mayors of BJP-supported corporations have alleged that the Congress government is indulging in discrimination in maintaining protocol and stalling development works being undertaken in their cities. BJP state president Rakesh Singh and MP mayor council head Alok Sharma said that BJP would launch a state-wide protest against the Congress government and the officials involved.

“We have been facing discrimination at the hands of the Congress government. Recently, there were issues related to protocol of mayors. Moreover, the government has stalled several development projects undertaken by the previous BJP government. The BJP-supported mayors are being issued notices to remove them from the post", said Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma.

Sharma said the BJP has decided to take up the matter with the central government. The Congress government has issued diktats to officials to stop funding the projects launched by the previous BJP government. The mayors' council has decided to complain to the ministry of personnel and training against the officials' undemocratic attitude, said Sharma.

"Mayors of different cities have approached party leaders against the wrong decision of the Congress government. There is total anarchy in the state and the CM and his ministers are threatening the mayors by issuing notices to them. We will launch a state-wide protest against the government soon", said Rakesh Singh.

Mayors from Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Katni, Satna, Singrauli, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Dewas, Sagar, Chhindwara and Bhopal came to the state capital to protest against the Congress government's decision to stop funding to several projects. The mayors also met former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at his official residence to narrate their woes. "It is very unfortunate that Congress government has resorted to a politics of revenge against BJP leaders and mayors. Funding of several schemes like Sambal, PM Awas Yojana, pattas and land to poor have been stopped by the state government. They are elected representatives and government cannot ignore or threaten them. Schemes for poor have also been affected. The BJP will take a decisive action against the Congress government", Chouhan told reporters after meeting the mayors.

Recently, Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma had left the dias during the ceremony to launch urban development programme presided over by chief minister Kamal Nath alleging violation of protocol by the urban development department. Sharma wanted to deliver the welcome address or vote of thanks during the function held for unemployed youths, but Congress minister Jaiwardhan Singh denied mayor Sharma the chance by calling Congress MLA Arif Masood in his place.