DelhiPolitics – Clash Disrupts MCD House After Assault Claim by AAP Councillor
DelhiPolitics – The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House session on Friday descended into disorder shortly after it began, as councillors from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in a heated confrontation. The disruption followed allegations that a woman AAP councillor had been assaulted by individuals linked to a BJP legislator in west Delhi, an accusation that immediately triggered strong reactions from both sides inside the civic body.
Opposition Raises Issue During Opening Remarks
The tense situation unfolded when Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang addressed the House and introduced a motion congratulating former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders after they were acquitted in the excise policy case. While presenting the motion, Narang shifted focus to an incident that he claimed had taken place earlier in the week involving Jyoti Gautam, an AAP councillor representing Ward No. 140 in the Rajendra Nagar Assembly constituency.
According to Narang, Gautam had been subjected to physical assault during a late-night inspection of road conditions in the area. He alleged that the attack was carried out by people associated with BJP MLA Umang Bajaj. The accusation prompted loud protests from BJP councillors, leading to a noisy exchange across the House floor.
Details of the Alleged Incident
While speaking in the House, Narang described the alleged incident in detail. He claimed that Gautam had gone out around 1:30 a.m. to inspect road conditions when the confrontation occurred. According to his account, she was allegedly pushed to the ground and manhandled during the altercation.
Narang further stated that the councillor sustained injuries during the incident and that her clothes were torn in the scuffle. The allegation drew sharp responses from the BJP benches, with several councillors objecting to the claims and demanding evidence to support the accusations.
BJP MLA Rejects Allegations
Responding to the charges, BJP MLA Umang Bajaj firmly denied any connection to the alleged incident. He dismissed the claims as politically motivated and said attempts were being made to create controversy for political gain.
Bajaj maintained that neither he nor his associates were involved in any such act and suggested that the allegations were part of a broader political strategy. The denial did little to calm the atmosphere inside the House, where councillors from both parties continued to exchange remarks.
Mayor Asked to Allow Councillor to Speak
After concluding his remarks, Narang requested Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh to allow Jyoti Gautam to address the House and present her account of the incident. The mayor responded by stating that all issues raised by members would be addressed in due course and that the proceedings would follow the scheduled order.
Despite the assurance, the discussion further intensified as councillors continued to argue over the matter, leading to repeated interruptions during the session.
Night Cleaning Drive Clears Waste in Karol Bagh Zone
Separately, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi reported progress in its sanitation campaign aimed at reducing dust and clearing waste across the city. As part of the ongoing ten-day dust free Delhi initiative, a night cleaning drive was conducted along railway tracks in the Karol Bagh Zone.
Officials said that approximately 149 metric tonnes of legacy waste were removed from areas near the railway lines during the operation. According to Deputy Commissioner Dilkhush Meena, the civic body has removed a total of 228 metric tonnes of waste in the zone so far.
In addition, around 550 metric tonnes of construction and demolition waste have been cleared over the past five days as part of the broader cleanliness effort. Authorities said the campaign will continue in different parts of the city with the aim of improving urban sanitation and reducing dust pollution.