Goel raps civic official, BJP calls it personal view

New Delhi: BJP MP Vijay Goel has accused North Corporation commissioner P K Gupta of inefficiency and demanded his removal. On Monday, he wrote to Union home minister Rajnath Singh and LG Najeeb Jung in this regard. But BJP, which is the ruling party in all the three corporations, was quick to distance itself from Goel saying that this was his “personal opinion”.
Addressing a press conference, Goel said, “Gupta is incompetent and inefficient as a commissioner.He is neither able to take any decisions nor tackle his subordinates...The powers conferred upon the commissioner are being used whimsically...” He said that officials like Gupta had made a “mockery” of PM’s Swachh mission.
Later, BJP released a statement downplaying Goel’s views. “It is his personal opinion. There are forums within the party where such matters should be discussed,” said R P Singh, BJP national secretary. Councillors in the North Corporation said that they had not faced any issue with Gupta.
Goel’s attack on Gupta has made things difficult for BJP, which is struggling to get work done because of an acute shortage of funds. BJP members said Goel’s criticism of the commissioner would provide ammunition to the opposition to target BJP. Party functionaries also questioned Goel’s decision to go public with the allegations instead of taking it up with the mayor or standing committee chairman of the North Corporation.
Despite repeated attempts, Gupta could not be contacted for his comment.