"We receive phone calls from the MLA’s office, instructing us to stop specific works," the Mayor said
Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Jiti Sidhu, along with Congress councillors, on Friday accused the Aam Aadmi Party government and AAP’s local MLA Kulwant Singh of deliberately obstructing development works in the city due to political interference.
Addressing a press conference, the mayor said, “Basic infrastructure projects such as roads, sewerage, and water supply in several wards have come to a standstill. There is political interference at every stage. Development works are being intentionally halted.”
“We receive phone calls from the MLA’s office, instructing us to stop specific works. The Municipal Corporation has prepared files, and budgets have already been sanctioned, yet projects are not being allowed to move forward. This is against the very spirit of democratic governance,” the mayor said.
Congress councillor Kamaljit Singh Bunny alleged that despite new motors having arrived at the waterworks, they could not be installed. “It is being said that the motors will be switched on only after the MLA or his son inaugurates them. Meanwhile, residents are suffering due to water shortage, but the government and administration seem unconcerned,” he alleged.
Councillors Harjit Singh Bhollu and Anuradha Anand also questioned the government’s functioning, stating that despite being elected representatives, they were unable to resolve even basic civic issues in their wards. Anand said that she had been requesting tree-pruning machines for the past six months, but officials cite a lack of funds even for fuel.
Councillor Baljit Kaur alleged that development works worth Rs26 lakh in her ward were stalled, while Councillor Dhaliwal claimed that steel number plates sanctioned for his ward had been withheld since 2022, despite work orders already issued.
Alleging “discrimination,” the mayor said, “Works in societies where AAP councillor Sukhdev Patwari resides have been approved, while projects in other societies are either rejected or cancelled on the pretext of beingprivate societies. Why this selective approach?”
The mayor strongly objected to the new ward delimitation, alleging “deliberate irregularities”. “Several wards have been reserved for SC candidates where the SC voter population is negligible. This is a direct betrayal of democratic principles,” he said.
The mayor added, “Mohali residents, irrespective of their political affiliation, are entitled to basic civic amenities. If the government does not change its approach, the party will raise these issues on the streets and at every possible forum.”
When contacted, the MLA said, “The mayor and the Congress councillors are lying. So, I don’t want to speak about it.”
MLA’s son and AAP councillor Sarabjit Singh Samana said, “The Congress’s mayor is a habitual liar and an obstacle in the path of development, while MLA Kulwant Singh has consistently taken steps to ensure all-round development without any discrimination.”
Citing development works carried out across Mohali, Samana said, “The mayor has proved to be a complete failure and has no answers left. The mayor is trying to shift the entire blame onto the MLA in an attempt to evade his own responsibility.”