A day ahead of the proposed Congress president Rahul Gandhi road show, political atmosphere in the state capital remained fully charged up on Sunday. Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) removed Congress banners, flags, flex, cut-outs of party leaders from nooks and corners of the city taking plea of Defacement of Property Act.
Congress workers, who had put up the party banners and flags in view of the road show on Monday, termed the civic body decision as politically motivated. Warning that the BJP would be paid back in same coin, the protesting Congress workers squatted on roads forcing BMC teams to return. Sources said that BMC administration removed flex, posters and banners on the direction of Mayor Alok Sharma. However, civic body administration said that the actions were taken as per the law.
BMC deputy commissioner Milind Dhoke claimed, “We have taken action as per the law – Defacement of Property Act – as the Congress workers went beyond the permissible limit. We have removed flags, posters, cut-outs and flex from Kilol Park, Board Office Square, Kamla Park etc. The action was taken on the direction of district administration.” Questioning the BMC’s move, Congress Corporator Guddu Chauhan said that since model code of conduct was not in force, the BMC should not have removed the party flags, flex and cut outs. “We protest BMC’s decision. BJP will be paid back in same coin when PM Modi would visit here on September 25. We will also remove BJP flags, flex and cut-outs of BJP and Modi,” warned Chauhan.
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