Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (File Photo)
Demanding a CBI probe into the embezzlement of money paid to the MCD, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ongoing strike by civic body workers in the national capital.
“I have gone through each and every figure, and thus, can say with confidence that the Delhi Government doesn’t have to pay even a penny to the MCD. There is a ‘big scam’ in the MCD, which needs to be investigated,” Kejriwal told a press conference.
“North MCD was given around Rs. 900 crore this year, which was almost double than the previous years. Where has the money gone?” he asked.
Kejriwal demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter.
“I understand the pain of MCD workers, who did not get their salaries, but what about BJP people who are spreading garbage on streets?” he asked and accused the MCD of lying before the court that the money allotted to them has been stolen.
“If the workers were paid their salaries till December, why did they go on strike on January 27 when there is no payment due,” added Kejriwal.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had tweeted that a “solution” to the ongoing MCD strike would be announced, and hoped that it would “satisfy” everyone, eventually bringing the agitation to an “end”.
“We have tried to find a solution to ongoing MCD strike. Will announce at 3 PM. Hope it satisfies everyone and the strike ends,” Kejriwal, who is undergoing naturopathy treatment in Bengaluru, tweeted.
Earlier, workers blocked major roads in the capital throwing peak hour traffic out of gear even as the Delhi government suggested that the continuing protests, that have brought the city to its knees, were “political” and instigated by BJP.
Commuters had a harrowing time as traffic came to a standstill in various parts of the city as sanitation workers blocked major thoroughfares such as NH 24 and Vikas Marg among others. They dumped garbage and set tyres ablaze on the roads.
Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, who had yesterday recommended to the AAP government to extend “conditional” loans to the civic bodies, met Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the latter’s residence.