Ludhiana: A brewing power struggle within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spilled into public view on Monday as the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor boycotted the official Republic Day flag-hoisting ceremony, alleging a deliberate lack of respect.Senior deputy mayor Rakesh Prashar and the deputy mayor claimed they were “ignored” and “received improperly” at the municipal corporation’s Zone-D office. The dispute reportedly centres on a breakdown in communication and protocol during the 8.55am ceremony.
The tension began when the deputy mayor’s vehicle was allegedly denied entry to the Zone D premises, forcing him to park outside in protest. Upon entering the building, the two office-bearers and several BJP councillors opted to wait in a side room rather than at the designated ceremony site.Witnesses stated that mayor Inderjit Kaur arrived at 8.52am, received a formal welcome, and proceeded to hoist the national flag precisely at 8.55am as scheduled. By the time the deputy mayors emerged from the room, the national anthem had already commenced. Feeling slighted that the ceremony had proceeded without them, the duo refused to join the event and left the premises immediately.Prashar alleged: “The zonal commissioner personally asked me to sit inside a room, yet the mayor was never informed of my arrival. I have raised this matter, of being ignored, officially with the local bodies minister.” Zonal commissioner Jagdev Singh Sekhon has disputed this account, stating that staff were sent twice to inform the deputy mayors that the mayor was arriving and the ceremony was about to begin. “They did not respond to the messages,” Sekhon said.Mayor Inderjit Kaur defended the timeline, citing strict adherence to official protocol. “The flag was to be hoisted at 8.55am precisely,” she said. “When all other officials and councillors were present at the spot, these leaders should have been there as well. Nothing was done intentionally; everything happened in haste to meet the schedule.”The disgruntled deputies of the mayor further alleged that the administration had failed to send formal invitation letters to all councillors, opting instead for phone calls, which they claim resulted in poor attendance at the civic event. MSID:: 127626747 413 |
