New Delhi: A viral video shows Shahjahanpur Municipal Corporation councillors holding water—supposedly ‘gangajal’—while taking an oath to share the civic body’s income equally among 60 people.
“Whatever income the corporation receives will be divided among all 60 of us. It will be distributed equally. All of us who are part of our group will stand together, and if anyone in the group faces any trouble, we will all support them,” one participant is heard saying.
The video has drawn outrage because it appears to use a religious ritual to give weight to a pledge about salary and collective support.
Shahjahanpur Municipal Commissioner Saumya Gurnani said the video was recorded last year at private premises and that officials are examining its authenticity and the circumstances of its creation. The corporation has 60 elected councillors and 10 nominated members. A preliminary inquiry found that people seen in the video are municipal councillors.
“Even so, we have ordered an inquiry,” Gurnani told PTI, adding that further action would follow the findings.
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Divided by religion, united by greed
An offensive remark aimed at anyone who ‘betrays’ the group is also audible in the video. That has further fuelled the impression that the gathering was about creating an internal pact rather than holding an ordinary discussion among elected representatives.
The political response has already begun. Congress district president Rajneesh Gupta alleged that corruption in the corporation had reached an extreme level and called for action. Samajwadi Party district president Tanveer Khan said the footage could send a wrong message to the public.
“Divided by religion, united by greed,” one Instagram user commented. Another called it “ganda-jal”, a play on gangajal. “Are they still representing people? Shame, shame,” read another comment.
The Shahjahanpur corporation has previously faced allegations concerning tender irregularities and outsourcing recruitment, according to the Free Press Journal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)