Kejriwal supports MCD employees protest but provides no solution

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia asking them to resolve the issues related with the ongoing strike by municipal corporations’ employees and find some way to help them. “Modi ji and the Bharatiya Janata Party talks about clean India “Swachh Bharat” and keep flaunting the scheme across the world, but their own capital is dirty and they are not anxious or doing anything about it. We have put PWD to work on this even though it’s not their job to do this”, he added.

Mewati said it is unconstitutional on the part of the state government to outsource the basic services of the MCD when so many workers are already assigned for the task.

In some areas, sanitation workers have not only refused to clear garbage but have littered it on the streets.

In view of the indefinite agitation called by MCD workers last week on January 27, North West district unit of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) held massive agitations in Rohini on Sunday.

“The situation may deteriorate if the government continues to engage PWD workers in cleaning the city when sanitation workers are on an indefinite strike”, he said.

“We want a solution to the problem and this can only be done by unification of all three corporations and timely payment of MCD employees”, Dr R R Gautam, President of Municipal Corporation Doctors’ Association, said.

He said the workers had a right to get their salaries. EDMC mayor Harshdeep Malhotra said with half of the money spent on the one-day exercise, salaries for two months of the striking civic body employees would have been paid.

“We really apologise for the inconvenience caused to patients, but we are helpless”, he said.

Taking part in the drive in his Patparganj Assembly constituency, Sisodia said the PWD is working “round-the- clock” in each city ward to ensure cleanliness.

The BJP has accused the AAP-controlled Delhi government of starving the civic body of funds, leading to the present crisis. The Delhi government and BJPruled corporations are fighting for their political gain but this could cost them dear.