Amritsar, January 31: Days after alleging that he was ignored during the mayoral elections, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today accompanied newly appointed Mayor Karamjit Rintu to the Municipal Corporation office.
In his address to the MC House, Sidhu said he had no problem with Rintu’s election. “He is my younger brother. I have no enmity against anyone. I fought against the lapses in the democratic process,” he said.
Rintu said he had always been Sidhu’s choice, adding that the Opposition had been spreading rumours to create a rift. “I picked him up from his house to clear misconceptions and invited him to lead a sanitation campaign,” he said.
Sidhu announced to kickstart the campaign himself by cleaning safai karamcharis’ houses and streets tomorrow. “Every member of the MC, the Mayor and the Commissioner are my family members and we will work together for the development of the holy city,” he said. The minister said the cleanliness drive will be monitored regularly.
Acceding to Rintu’s demands, Sidhu announced funds to the tune of Rs 9 crore for Swachhta Abhiyaan, including Rs 7 crore to clear the dues of the SL Hitachi sanitation firm — as ordered by the National Green Tribunal.
Sidhu and 15 local councillors had skipped the swearing-in ceremony last week, claiming that he had not been invited. The “rebel” councillors later apologised for their conduct.
Source Tribune India
