Uproar over Rajiv Gandhi resolution

New Delhi, January 3

The Delhi Assembly witnessed uproar over a recent controversial resolution on former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, leading to the suspension of three Opposition MLAs for the day and adjournment of proceedings.

BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who was marshalled out of the House when he came into the Well, alleged that he was manhandled and his turban was forcefully removed during the adjournment in the House.

As the proceedings began, Sirsa moved a notice for the "removal of Speaker Ram Niwas Goel" over alleged "changes in recent resolution" moved by a ruling party MLA demanding stripping former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of Bharat Ratna.

Following the request, Goel said he cannot accept it as such a notice has to be given 14 days in advance.

When the Speaker turned down the Opposition's request, Sirsa came into the Well, prompting Goel to order the BJP MLAs to be marshalled out. Goel suspended Opposition leader Vijender Gupta, Sirsa and BJP MLA Jagdish Pradhan for the day from House proceedings. Then Goel adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Outside the House, Gupta and Sirsa also alleged that the "content of the resolution (on Rajiv Gandhi) was changed" as the ruling party wants to forge alliance with the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

After the House reassembled, AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj accused Sirsa of "manhandling" and "abusing" the marshals.

Goel referred the matter to the Privileges Committee.

5th DFC | Govt to devolve 12.5% of its collected tax to MCDs: Jain

The government has decided to accept most of the recommendations of the Fifth Delhi Finance Commission, providing 12.5 per cent of its total tax collection to municipal corporations in the city, Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain said today.

He said earlier this amount was 10.5 per cent as per the Third DFC recommendation.

However, the government refused to implement the Fourth DFC report, saying that in any case, it has released more funds to the MCDs ranging from 14 per cent to 17 per cent.

Jain also presented government's action taken report on the Fifth DFC in the House, which was adopted.

Jain told the House that there were a total of 171 recommendations made by the Fifth DFC, out of which 88 were accepted by the government, 20 related with devolution of funds were accepted with amendments, 13 were for local bodies to accept, 17 were referred to committees, and 29 were rejected.

As per the devolution formula, 12.5 per cent of tax collection that will be transferred to the local bodies will be divided into two parts.

The first part of 6 per cent will be further broken down into 3 per cent each. The East and North Delhi will receive 65 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively, of it.

The other 3 per cent will be meant for all the local bodies, including the NDMC and the Delhi Cantonment Board.

The remaining 6.5 per cent will be devolved to the local bodies through budgetary provisions of different departments, Jain said.

Presenting the action taken report of the government on the Fourth DFC, Jain said that the Centre denied to accept it. The Fourth DFC recommended the Delhi government's control over the local bodies, including the municipal corporations and the Delhi Development Authority, he said.

He said the government provided 17.6 per cent of its budget to the municipal corporations in 2012-13, 16.11 per cent in 2013-14, 15.34 per cent in 2014-15, and 14.40 per cent in 2015-16. — PTI