AAP’s Leader of Opposition (LoP) in MCD House, Ankush Narang, has written to Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh and the Commissioner questioning why civic employees were forced to attend the Prime Minister’s rally. He has demanded an inquiry into who gave the orders, who arranged the buses, under which head the expenses were paid, and whether it is proper to send employees to political events.
AAP councillors Kusum Lata, Sarika Chaudhary, Bhagvir and Rakesh Lohia have also written to zonal Deputy Commissioners seeking an investigation and action against the guilty officials.
In his letter, MCD LoP Ankush Narang wrote, “As you are aware, on Sunday, August 17, the BJP organised a massive political rally in the Rohini/Narela area of Delhi on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-2). According to received information and evidence, sanitation workers from various MCD zones and wards, employees of the malaria department, and teachers of MCD schools were forcibly summoned to make this rally appear successful. It has also come to light that these employees were threatened that if they did not attend the rally, they would face termination of service, stoppage of salary, or disciplinary action.”
He further stated, “Sunday is the weekly holiday for these employees, yet they were forcibly brought in and transported to the rally venue in buses. In some cases, they were even lured with false promises of compensatory leave.”
Raising serious questions on the matter, Ankush Narang asked, “On whose orders were employees forcibly brought to this rally? Which department arranged the buses to transport them to the venue? From which budget head were these buses paid for? Is it appropriate to compel government employees to attend the rally of a political party?”
Calling it a clear case of misconduct, he added, “Such actions not only violate the Conduct Rules of Public Service, but also constitute a blatant misuse of power. It is also an infringement of the fundamental rights of employees. I request that an impartial investigation be conducted into this matter and that necessary disciplinary action be taken against the guilty officials and employees.”
As supporting evidence, Ankush Narang enclosed with his letter the links to Facebook live videos made by councillors from certain wards, as well as copies of departmental orders issued to the employees. He concluded by saying, “I expect that the Mayor will take cognisance of this serious issue on priority and inform my office about the action taken in this regard.”
