Uproar in SDMC House as AAP members protest

The SDMC House today witnessed an uproar as members of the Opposition AAP staged protests, alleging inaction by the BJP-led corporation in dealing with "illegal construction" in parts of south Delhi.
Incidentally, the proceedings began after the members had observed moments of silence for the late Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh and seven-year-old Pradhuman Thakur, who was found with his throat slit at private school in Gurgaon recently.
AAP's leader in the municipal House Ramesh Matiala said his party wanted to raise the issue of "illegal construction" and know the status on the action taken by the SDMC against it.

"We only wanted to know how many illegal buildings have been demolished or sealed, and why no action has been taken against certain illegally-built structures. But, the mayor just refused to heed us, and did not say anything. After which, we began to protest," Ramesh said.
Leader of House in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Shika Rai, rejected the allegation and said, the party (AAP) was "merely trying to get some media attention" and trying to divert people's mind from real issues.
"We observed two minutes of silence for (Marshal of IAF) Arjan Singh and Pradhuman in the beginning of the proceedings. Later, the AAP members raised the issue of illegal construction rather vaguely and made false allegations against the SDMC and our BJP councillors.

"We asked them to not obstruct the regular proceedings, but soon they started displaying placards and trooped to the Well of the House, shouting slogans like 'stop corruption' in SDMC. The House was adjourned for a while and we reassembled but they again protested," Rai said.

The proceedings were then suspended for the day, she said.
Incidentally, the House today passed the proposal to provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to needy people, including widows, the destitute, orphaned children and transgenders.
The SDMC had earlier decided to provide monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to destitute, widows, divorcee, kinnar (transgender), and orphaned child till he/she attains the age of 18, and persons suffering from serious illnesses as defined by the Health Department. The proposal was today cleared by the House, she said.