GURGAON: While probably accepting openly for the first time he is related to chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, MCG chief Praveen Kumar on Saturday said the demolition of a building co-owned by senior deputy mayor Yashpal Batra had nothing to do with the CM or Batra’s presence at Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh’s induction ceremony when he joined BJP.

Clarifying that the building was razed because it was illegal and that he did speak to the chief minister before and after the demolition, Kumar said the timing of the demolition should not be misunderstood.

Rubbishing allegations of a political motive behind the civic body’s move, Kumar said, “It’s true I am related to the chief minister from my mother’s side, this has nothing to do with him. There is no political agenda or vendetta involved and all these are baseless allegations. I will answer them all.”

Soon after the mayor’s press conference ended on Saturday, the entire MCG machinery swung into action. Despite today being a holiday, most of the top hierarchy got busy in digging out details of the development work carried out by Kumar in his so far short tenure as the MCG commissioner. The authorities claimed since the time he has joined office, he has already cleared tenders worth Rs 27 crore.

“He has already cleared and allotted 30 projects. It is the finance committee headed by the mayor that’s holding up development work. At least five projects are still awaiting the committee’s nod,” said a senior official.

When asked about the mayor and other councillors threatening a sit-in outside his office on Monday, Kumar said he will do what Arvind Kejriwal did. “I too will sit join their dharna. If required I will carry out my work sitting alongside them. I’m not going to give into these pressure tactics,” he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/No-political-motive-behind-demolition/articleshow/31239123.cms