The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has slammed the BJP for delivering yet another “jumla” (political gimmick) — a hollow assurance to fulfil Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) employees’ demands within a month. With by-elections due in 12 MCD wards on November 30, AAP Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD House Ankush Narang said the BJP, rattled by public anger and fearing defeat, has been forced to bow before protesting MTS workers and accept all their demands.
Ankush Narang added that the Mayor’s sudden announcement is merely a desperate attempt to keep employees off the streets during polls — a ‘jumla’ from a party whose inaction led to a 33-day strike and a surge in dengue and malaria cases across Delhi.
AAP’s LoP in MCD House Ankush Narang stated, “The strike by MCD’s (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) Public Health Department’s MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) and PH (Public Health) employees continued for a full 33 days and brought Delhi’s streets to a halt. Nearly 5,200 employees took to the streets and fought for their rightful demands. Ultimately, the BJP had to bow down before these employees. BJP Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh was forced to abandon his stubbornness and accept their demands. Had the BJP Mayor taken this step before September 29, the rising cases of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in Delhi would not have become so alarming.”
Ankush Narang said, “At the conclusion of the protest, the Mayor read out the recommendations of the so-called ‘jhunjhuna committee’ and stated that the MCD Commissioner will send a proposal to the Delhi Government. The proposal would mention that paying these employees a uniform salary of ₹27,900 would create an additional annual burden of ₹41 crore, which will be borne by the Delhi Government. The Mayor assured that a proposal to secure this annual funding will be sent, and the entire process will be completed within one month.”
Criticising the political motive behind the delay, he explained, “The Mayor has taken one month’s time because by November 30, by-elections are scheduled to take place in 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Neither the people of Delhi are happy with this BJP-run MCD, nor are the employees. The Mayor only wants to ensure that during the election period, the employees do not take to the streets. That’s why he has handed them yet another ‘jhunjhuna’.”
Expressing concern over the Mayor’s intentions, Ankush Narang continued, “The employees are hopeful that Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh will remember his promise. On October 31, he announced that the demands would be fulfilled. Now, he has time only till November 30. Within this one month, the Mayor must get the proposal approved from the Delhi Government and ensure that Rekha Gupta secures ₹41 crore annually from the government for the employees’ salaries. This will allow the MTS workers to receive a salary of ₹27,900, compassionate appointments for their family members, medical leave, and earned leave. However, I fear that this too will turn out to be just another ‘jumla’. The Mayor should be ashamed that while he made this election-time announcement, there is no clarity on whether he will actually fulfil it.”
Issuing a stern warning, the MCD House LoP said, “Remember, several elections are coming up. If this time he fails to keep his promise, MCD employees will be seen protesting on the streets before every election. The inconvenience caused to the public because of this will be the responsibility of the BJP, its Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, and BJP’s Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma.”
