Gujarat Congress protests exclusion from AMC committee

Congress party members took out a rally on Tuesday to protest the ruling party's decision on Monday to exclude Congress members from the standing committee of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

A group of around 35 Congress party members carried signboards and shouted slogans during the rally which commenced at Sardar Baug and ended at the AMC office in Danapith. Prominent Congress members like former mayor Himmatsinh Patel, Ahmedabad city Congress president Pankaj Shah, leader of opposition in the AMC, Badruddin Shaikh, and many corporators took part in the protest march.

During the discussion with the mayor, the Congress members stated that the civic body should have transparency and should work towards development. Pankaj Shah said that development is possible if pros and cons of the projects are considered and discussed, which is normally done by the opposition.

While addressing the media, mayor Asit Vora said that because opposition (BJP) corporators in the municipal corporations of Junagadh and Gandhinagar were excluded by the Congress, the ruling BJP in the AMC has decided to exclude opposition corporators from the standing committee. "However, the citizens need not worry about this as the fight between the two parties will not affect the work of the civic body," the mayor added.

But the opposition party had a different story to tell. Himmatsinh Patel stated that the ruling party is 'deceptive and misconstruing the facts'. Congress has alleged that due to several exposed scams and corruption incidents unearthed recently, "the ruling party is scared and now wants a monopoly in the body. Hence, it has thought up lame excuses and is blaming the Congress for the move. This is purely BJP's move to avoid transparency and indulge in corruption," Patel said.