Woman on top

MCD corporator gave a whole new meaning to 'raising an issue'

MCD corporator gave a whole new meaning to 'raising an issue'

Rising to the occasion has been re-defined and who else could have done it better than a politician.
After failing to drive home the point that a sari should be included in the uniform for woman employees (class IV) of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Congress councillor Preeti climbed the 50-feet-high verandah of the Town Hall so that her voice could be heard.


Up in arms: Congress councillor Preeti was demanding that grade IV
women employees should be provided better uniformsu00a0pic/mid day

The corporator representing Vivek Vihar in the BJP-ruled MCD house is know for her exploits. However, on Tuesday it all proved counter-productive, as the ruling BJP lodged an attempt to suicide complaint against her with the local police.

To protest an alleged scam in buying uniforms for municipal employees and lack of disbursal of pension through the MCD, Preeti turned up with a mannequin that was wearing a blouse and a petticoat.
She tried to raise the issue in the House but her pleas went unheard with the Deputy Chairman of the House Rajesh Gehlot asking her to wait, time and again.u00a0u00a0

Fed up, Preeti came out of the meeting and went up to town hall verandah just below the historic clock on the building with the mannequin. She raised the dummy, stood on the boundary of the porch and threatened to commit suicide unless the deputy mayor came up with a solution.

The bizarre way of protest got her attention from her counterparts and the media alike as most of them came out to watch the drama unfold.
A few Congress leaders tried to intervene but to no avail. The drama continued for around 45 minutes after which the deputy mayor went up to her and assured that the issue would be looked into.

She was taken to the Mayor's office where she had heated exchange with BJP councillors who were asking the deputy mayor to take action against her. Meanwhile, one of the BJP councillors, Rajni Abbi, called the police and asked the deputy mayor to register a case against her. Unfazed over the reaction from her colleagues, Preeti started swaying her dupatta in the air singing 'Inhi logon ne le lina dupatta mera' from the Bollywood movie Pakeeza.

Blasts from the past

'u00a0Last year Preeti staged a sit-in in the room of the then Standing Committee Chairman Ram Kishen Singhal and refused to come out unless her demands are accepted. She alleged that she was not being provided with adequate funds for her ward. 'u00a0In 2008, Preeti, along with Jai Kishen Sharma, brought a mike to the House meeting alleging that the then mayor, Arti Mehra, did not allow them to speak. The drama continued over several meetings.

"I was demanding a discussion on sub-standard clothes being provided to municipal employees. They have given only petticoat and blouse to woman employees under class IV. Can a worker come to duty in such state? When I was not given time, I decided to protest in my way," she told MiD DAY.

"I don't enjoy creating a tamasha. I have been raising women's issues for the past 22 years. The deputy mayor has promised to look into the matter," she said.

However, Preeti's own party has been embarrassed by her exploits. Congress sources said they have decided to complain against Preeti to the state party chief JP Aggarwal. "This kind of behaviour is not acceptable. We should think twice before taking such a step. It tarnishes our image," said Jaikishen Sharma, leader of the opposition in the MCD.