Jalandhar, October 9, 2026: BJP councillors and party workers staged a strong protest at the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation office on Friday, raising allegations of irregularities in Smart City projects and questioning the civic body over sanitation, sewerage and development works across the city.
The demonstration was led by BJP councillor-group leader Manjit Singh Titu, while BJP Jalandhar Urban president Ashok Sareen Hicky, Rural president Jagbir Brar, councillors, party workers and supporters also participated.
The protesters raised slogans outside the Municipal Corporation and demanded greater transparency regarding expenditure under the Jalandhar Smart City project. BJP leaders maintained that residents have a right to know how public funds were spent and what action has been taken on complaints and audit observations linked to various projects.
The protest took a dramatic turn when BJP leaders said the Municipal Commissioner and other officials concerned were not available in their offices to receive their memorandum. The councillors then pasted their written memorandum of demands on the door of the Commissioner’s office as a mark of protest.
Among their main demands was the release of a White Paper on the Smart City project, containing details of project expenditure, tenders, payments, completed works, investigations and action taken on alleged irregularities.
The BJP also sought clarity regarding observations made in the CAG report and demanded that the status of the Vigilance investigation into Smart City-related matters be made public.
Party leaders said any allegations of wrongdoing should be investigated in a transparent and time-bound manner. They demanded that responsibility be fixed wherever violations are established through official inquiry.
Apart from Smart City-related issues, the councillors raised concerns over deteriorating sanitation and sewerage conditions in several parts of Jalandhar.
They demanded a time-bound action plan for cleaning sewerage lines, improving garbage collection, repairing streetlights and ensuring an adequate supply of clean drinking water to residents.
The BJP also sought ward-wise disclosure of sanctioned posts, employees currently deployed, vacant positions and pending recruitment relating to sanitation and sewerage staff.
Manjit Singh Titu said residents wanted clear answers regarding the allegations surrounding Smart City works and questioned why investigations had not resulted in greater public disclosure.
Ashok Sareen Hicky also questioned the Municipal Corporation administration and Mayor Vaneet Dhir regarding the status of investigations and action taken in Smart City-related matters.
Hicky said the civic body should make public how much money had been spent, how many projects had been completed and what action had been initiated where complaints of irregularities had surfaced.
During the protest, BJP leaders also made political allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress regarding the handling of corruption-related investigations. These remain political claims and should not be treated as established findings of wrongdoing.
Jagbir Brar said the party would continue raising civic issues concerning residents and seek accountability from the Municipal Corporation on development and basic public services.
At the time of publication, a detailed response from the Municipal Corporation administration to all the specific demands raised in the memorandum was not immediately available.
Any allegations of financial irregularities in Smart City or other development projects will ultimately require examination through official records, audit findings and competent investigative authorities before responsibility can be established.
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