MC seals BJP leader’s building

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14

Three days after BJP leader Kamal Chatly held a press conference against Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the Municipal Corporation (MC) on Saturday sealed Chatly’s building for allegedly not paying the CLU charges.

Chatly’s building is located on Ferozepur Road. Meanwhile, officials of the MC also claimed to have sealed some other buildings in the city today.

After MC’s action, Chatly alleged that the civic body staff sealed the building on Ashu’s instruction. He alleged that the MC had never sent any notice to him regarding any violation.

“Being Saturday it was holiday in the Local Bodies Department, but the MC team was specially sent to seal our shed wherein we have been running work related to marble since 1998,” said Kamal Chatly.

“Whenever anybody speaks against the minister action is taken against that person. I had organised a press conference against Ashu three days ago, now he pressurised the MC staff to act against our shed,” he added.

“I will take up the matter with MC Commissioner on Monday. I will also ask what action has been taken against various illegal constructions in the city,” he said.

An MC official said they sealed several buildings, including Chatly’s.

When contacted, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said, “Kamal Chatly is levelling false allegations against Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Some other buildings too were sealed today. I held a meeting with officials of the building branch earlier this week and directed the staff to ensure recovery from violators. I had ordered to take action against buildings. There is no interference of the minister in the MC’s action against such buildings.”

When contacted, Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said, “If Kamal Chatly’s building has been sealed wrongly or without any reason, I will recommend to get it reopened and take action against those, who sealed it. If Chatly is at fault and he has not paid any pending dues to the civic body, he should deposit the amount with the MC and get the building reopened instead of politicising the issue.”

Coming out in favour of suspended DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon, Kamal Chetly had organised a press conference on December 11 wherein he had accused Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu of threatening government officials.

Chatly had demanded withdrawal of suspension orders of DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon. He had accused Ashu of threatening Sekhon in the alleged CLU scam.

At the press conference, Chatly also claimed that he would complain to the Union Home Minister in this regard.

On the other hand, a group of Congress councillors had also organised a press conference against Chatly and former DSP on the same day. They had claimed that Chatly and suspended DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon had a negative approach towards any person, who wanted to carry out development in the city. They had blamed Chatly for backing the DSP.

Notably, Ashu had earlier denied the allegations. He had also accused Sekhon of sending him abusive messages.