M A I N   N E W S

Amritsar Mayor resigns
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — Mr Subash Sharma, Mayor, Municipal Corporation, today tendered his resignation, after being embroiled in an alleged sex scandal.

Announcing this decision at a press conference at the local Town Hall, Mr Sharma alleged he had been “victimised” by a political mafia ‘jealous’ of the “unprecedented” development works initiated during his three-year tenure as Mayor.

Mr Sharma said he was “innocent” and the allegations regarding moral turpitude against him baseless, mischievous, misleading and politically motivated”. Nevertheless, he was resigning as per the wishes of state party chief Brij Lal Rinwa.

The party high command had expelled Mr Sharma for six years from primary membership of the BJP after reports that he had been “caught” with a “woman” in a local hotel, Sun City Towers, on August 13 during a raid conducted by DSP Chaman Lal in plainclothes.

In his three-line resignation latter addressed to the Municipal Corporation (through the Commissioner), Mr Sharma stated he was resigning as Mayor with immediate effect. He handed over the letter to Mr Gurwaryam Singh, Joint Commissioner.

Mr Lakha Singh, Deputy Mayor, who belongs to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, will take over as acting Mayor tomorrow.

To a query, Mr Sharma claimed party president Rinwa had assured him that he would review his expulsion from the party. He reiterated that his expulsion was a ‘hasty step’ and in violation of the party constitution which would be “revoked” in due course of time. He claimed he had been expelled due to a “communication gap” between him and the party president.

He claimed he had never been asked to step down as Mayor. “I am sepoy of the BJP and will continue to work as a dedicated worker”.