Gurugram: Unhappy with the delay in sanction of Rs 27.48 crore for civic works already approved by the Faridabad Municipal Corporation, Congress MLA Neeraj Sharma expressed his displeasure with the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP-JJP government using an unconventional tool — his attire.
The MLA from Faridabad NIT (New Industrial Township) was seen Wednesday outside the Haryana MLAs hostel in Sector 3 here donning a ‘shroud’ with pictures showing parts of his constituency reeling under neglect and in dire need of repair and maintenance. Sharma wanted to register his protest outside the chief minister’s residence but ended up at a park opposite the MLA’s hostel after police denied him permission to do so.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sharma asked if this delay was an indication of the government’s approach to “sabka sath, sabka vikas”.
Asked about his protest, he told ThePrint Wednesday, “People of my constituency are living in hell-like situations with potholed roads, overflowing drains, and uncovered manholes.”
Sharma, who is also the Congress whip in the assembly, said he submitted to the government last October a file of proposals of civic works worth Rs 27.48 crore approved by the municipal commissioner, and director and secretary of the state’s urban local bodies (ULB) department.
“During the winter session of the state assembly, on 15 December, the Haryana ULB minister assured me that the file would be approved within a month. Now, when the deadline given by the minister elapsed on 16 January 16, I decided to shun normal clothes and wear this shroud over my body till my demand for the people of my constituency is met,” he added.
“Due to overflow of sewers, it becomes difficult to judge where the road ends and drain begins. An 11-year-old boy and a 42-year-old man lost their lives by falling in an open drain last May,” said the Faridabad NIT MLA.
ThePrint reached Haryana ULB Minister Kamal Gupta Thursday for comment via calls but had not received a response by the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
Asked to comment, Sudesh Kataria, chief media coordinator of CM Manohar Lal Khattar, said Sharma has a habit of enacting drama and both the people and the media have stopped taking him seriously.
“Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is known for treating all assembly constituencies, whether represented by the ruling party or by the Opposition, equally in the matter of development. But Sharma is fond of enacting dramas to grab attention. He is not interested in the development of his constituency but his real aim is to grab headlines,” said Kataria.
In March last year, Sharma had vowed not to wear shoes or stitched clothes until the police heeded his demand for the registration of an FIR in a “Rs 200 crore scam” in the Faridabad Municipal Corporation. “The government acted only days after I removed my clothes and shoes and wrapped a dhoti around my body in the budget session,” Sharma told ThePrint.
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‘Civic body claims not enough funds’
A starred question raised by Sharma on 15 January, during the winter session of the assembly, shows that ULB Minister Kamal Gupta had admitted in the House that a file for execution of developmental works worth Rs. 27.48 crores was forwarded by the Faridabad municipal commissioner to the director of the state ULB department.
Responding to the status of the file, the minister had said that the proposal concerned fell under the purview of the municipal corporation and that “Rs 629.59 were available” with the civic body as of 30 November 30, 2023. Gupta also stated that the state government would step in with additional funds for the works mentioned in the proposal if the need arose.
“I told the minister that the municipal corporation told me that they don’t have funds. Rs 629.59 crore that the minister was talking about had already been allocated by the civic body to other development works and salary etc. I brought all this to the notice of the House and made certain statements which the Speaker expunged from the proceedings,” said Sharma.
Details of the proceedings of the House from that day reveal that in response to the supplementary question, the minister asserted that every question can’t be answered with a yes or no, adding, “We will get the feasibility checked and it will be done if found feasible.”
This is when Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda intervened and asked the minister to clarify if the file was sent to the CM for sanction. The minister, in turn, said “Jab sthiti sahi hogi to aage paisa diya jayega” (When the situation is right, funds will be given). He also objected to some words uttered by Sharma which were later expunged.
Sharma then said on the floor of the House that the minister was talking about feasibility at this stage when estimates have been passed and sent to the government. “How many lives does the government want to take? Two people have already died (in accidents),” he added.
Reacting to the exchange, Speaker Gian Chand Gupta told the minister to furnish a reply on whether the funds can be released or not, within 15 days.
The minister then said that the funds would be released within a month if the government found the proposal feasible.
According to a list of estimates provided by Sharma, the proposal for 60 civic works worth Rs 27.48 crore includes interlocking tiles on streets, sewer lines, construction of RCC (reinforced cement concrete) nullahs, strengthening of weak and damaged roads, and new water supply lines etc. in select localities across Faridabad NIT.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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