High drama unfolded at the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) House on Tuesday when a heated exchange between AAP and BJP councillors erupted into slogan-shouting, tearing of documents, and even physical scuffles. The situation deteriorated to such an extent that police were summoned to restore order.
Witnesses said that what began as objections over agenda items quickly spiralled into chaos. Opposition councillors accused the Mayor and ruling side of ignoring civic concerns and misusing authority, while BJP councillors countered with slogans in support of the Mayor. In the melee, some members tore pages from the minutes of the previous meeting, while others were seen pushing and jostling each other.
Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla adjourned the House for ten minutes after ordering the removal of Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty, Deputy Mayor Taruna Mehta, and AAP councillor Prem Lata. During the adjournment, Bunty and other opposition councillors gathered in the “Well” of the House and staged their own parallel proceedings, accusing the ruling BJP of harassment of staff and stifling dissent.
The uproar prompted MC officials to request police presence inside the premises. Security personnel soon entered the hall to prevent further escalation.
Among the key issues fuelling tempers were the suspension of two sanitation officers over alleged lapses during a recent Union Minister’s visit, and calls for a probe into the functioning of the city’s Horticulture Waste Management Plant. Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi argued that accountability should not be limited to junior staff, while Councillor Saurabh Joshi threatened to sit on a dharna outside the MC office if his demand for a full inquiry into horticulture pits was ignored.
Mayor Babla condemned the tearing of minutes as “an insult to the dignity of Chandigarh’s citizens and women,” linking it to her recent recognition for women’s empowerment in Moscow. BJP councillors rallied behind her, while the opposition accused her of shielding officials and mismanaging civic resources.
This latest showdown adds to a string of turbulent MC sessions in recent months. Earlier, opposition members had been marshalled out of the House during the controversial transfer of V-3 roads to the Chandigarh Administration, a move pushed through despite walkouts and protests. "With the MC already struggling with financial shortfalls and stalled development projects, today’s scenes further underscored the deepening political divide overshadowing civic governance in the city", said sources.