Delhi Mayor and MCD Commissioner Share Stage Amidst Recent Tensions
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Synopsis
On April 14, Delhi Mayor Mahesh Khichi and MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar shared a stage just two days after Khichi called for Kumar's dismissal. The event honored employees on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary, signaling a potential easing of tensions within the civic agency.
Key Takeaways
- Joint appearance of Mayor and Commissioner indicates subsiding tensions.
- Mayor Khichi's previous request for Commissioner’s dismissal highlights ongoing conflicts.
- Event honored sanitation workers, educators, and meritorious students.
- Upcoming Mayoral election set for April 25.
- Opposition criticizes AAP's handling of municipal issues.
New Delhi, April 14 (NationPress) Just two days after Delhi Mayor Mahesh Khichi requested the dismissal of MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, both prominent civic leaders were seen sharing a platform on Monday as the Corporation honored its employees on the 135th birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
Their joint presence on stage, positioned beside one another, seemed to indicate a reduction in the tensions within the civic agency, following Khichi's allegations against the Commissioner of making unilateral decisions regarding the imposition of fees on residents.
In addition to discussing Ambedkar’s principles, the Mayor commended the organization of the event on Monday and appreciated the attendance of the Municipal Commissioner along with his team.
“We celebrated our sanitation workers, educators, and high-achieving students during this successful gathering at the full auditorium,” Khichi informed reporters, signaling a potential easing of his previously strained relationship with the Commissioner.
This event was one of the final public appearances of the outgoing Mayor before the upcoming Mayoral election set for April 25.
On April 11, Mayor Mahesh Khichi, an AAP councillor, sent a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting the Commissioner’s removal due to what he termed as “arbitrary decisions,” a move the Opposition BJP labeled as ‘anarchist’ and ‘ridiculous’.
Khichi's request for the MCD chief's ousting stemmed from the latter's decision to charge a garbage user fee to property tax payers and increase the commercial license fee.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor remarked, “The AAP government in Delhi previously clashed with the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary. Now that they are in control of the Municipal Corporation, they are at odds with the Municipal Commissioner. Initially, they hindered development projects in Delhi, and for the past two years, they have stymied the Municipal Corporation.”
While addressing HM Shah, Khichi pointed out that the Commissioner had disregarded his letters protesting the new fees.
“As it stands, residents of Delhi are already burdened with taxes, and now they are facing additional charges,” he stated.
