New Delhi, Aug 18 (UNI) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pressuring Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) employees to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Delhi on Sunday, claiming the event saw poor public participation.
AAP leaders have demanded an investigation into the alleged coercion, while the BJP has not yet responded to the accusations.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP’s Delhi State President, called the rally a “flop,” noting the absence of crowd shots in media coverage and questioning the actual attendance. “The BJP has only shared close-up images on social media. Their Delhi chief must clarify how many people were genuinely present,” he said.
Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha claimed that MCD employees, including teachers and sanitation workers, were forcibly taken to the event under threat of disciplinary action. He cited social media videos purportedly showing officials loading employees onto buses and said he had written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, and the MCD Commissioner seeking an inquiry. “If the Mayor denies issuing orders, who did? This is a serious abuse of authority,” Jha said.
Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh linked the alleged low turnout to public discontent with the BJP government, citing unfulfilled promises and civic issues. “Garbage is accumulating across Delhi, yet sanitation workers were diverted to a political rally. Is this governance?” he asked.
While Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh reportedly denied any official order forcing employee attendance, AAP insists video evidence proves otherwise.
