New Delhi: Terming the MCD`s trifurcation as
"undemocratic" and "unconstitutional", Delhi BJP on Thursday
targeted Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for pushing the
proposal that reflects her "individual agenda".
"The decision to trifurcate the local body is contrary to
provisions of Constitution and raises a question mark on the
future of a democratic local body as the importance of elected
representatives will decline and the influence of bureaucracy
will increase," Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta told reporters.
Gupta said the amendment imposes an official body over an
elected one, which is an "uncalled interference" into the
autonomy and constitutional nature of the civic body.
"Under this Bill, a single official will have right to
overpower every decision of the local body...only except for
dissolution of the local body," Gupta claimed.
In a scathing attack on Dikshit, he said, "It (the
proposal) is a reflection of the chief minister`s individual
agenda." Gupta alleged that the trifurcation was a decision
taken by the government in haste for "political benefits".
"By doing so the Congress has violated the principle of
autonomy to the local bodies and handed over the power of the
corporation to government and bureaucrats," he said.
Gupta said the government intended to benefit from the
move by collecting taxes and wanted to weaken the corporation
economically at the same time.
"How is this decision going to help run the body
democratically when all the discretionary powers are being
relegated to a single official rather than members of the
elected body?" he asked.
Gupta, however, said BJP was not against the division of
anybody but same should be done through a process and in
totality.
"The government wants to take control of new corporations
and it is a political conspiracy which will have adverse
consequences on people," he said.
"If the government is so serious about the functioning of
the body, why doesn`t it then divide the body into 12 zones
under the umbrella of a uniform local body as proposed in 1992
without amending the MCD Act?"
Gupta said BJP was analysing the Bill and is mulling to
take possible legal action on the issue. The party would
oppose the move in the Assembly.
"We had warned the government against any such move as
many administrative and legal complications will arise and the
work in all the three corporations will be hindered," he said.
PTI
