Quiz reporters, Mayor writes to UT SSP

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13

The recent spurt in audio recordings of councillors and officers going viral and finding a place in the media has worried Mayor Asha Jaswal. She has urged Nilambari Jagadale, UT SSP, to quiz reporters who have been publishing the news regarding the conversations.

Sources said in an unusual step, the Mayor had written to the SSP to quiz the reporters in the inquiry to find out the source of the circulation of the recordings.

In the letter, Jaswal said recently various call recordings related to councillors and MC officers were circulated in the social media and were also reported by the media. 

These recordings lowered the image of the municipal Corporation in the eyes of the public. She stated that councillors told her that the recordings were fake and the reporters should be involved in the inquiry.

“As the Mayor of the city, I am hurt by the controversy and request you to probe the matter and submit a report regarding all recordings to my office at the earliest so that appropriate action can be taken against those who have lowered the image of the MC," she said.

The sources said the letter was written after some Bharatiya Janata Party and independent councillors faced a Vigilance inquiry for allegedly seeking money for doing works. 

This is not the first time the Mayor’s move has kicked up a controversy. A controversy broke out when she visited Snehalaya, a home for destitute and abandoned children in Maloya, in February without permission.

The letter has drawn strong criticism from the Opposition. Pardeep Chhabra, president of the Chandigarh Congress, said the letter was a direct interference in the ongoing investigation by the police. 

He said asking the Vigilance to involve mediapersons in the inquiry was also an attempt to browbeat the media.

The Chandigarh Press Club has also condemned the Mayor for asking the police to involve the media in the inquiry.

Devinder Singh Babla, Leader of the Opposition, also condemned the letter and said the Press had full freedom and any attempt to threaten it should be condemned.