Ludhiana approves ₹1,100-crore budget in 25 minutes

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation approved a budget of ₹1,100 crore in just 25 minutes, sparking a strong reaction from opposition parties. The session was marked by chaos, as Congress and BJP councillors protested against what they called a lack of proper discussion. Mayor Inderjit Kaur praised the budget, emphasizing its focus on important civic needs. She highlighted that around ₹400 crore would be spent on development projects, including road repairs, water and sewer systems, streetlights, and park maintenance. Opposition members were particularly upset about a ₹48 crore allocation for streetlights. They argued that the funding was unnecessary since an LED streetlight project was already in place. Senior Congress councillor Sham Sunder Malhotra claimed that the distribution of streetlights was unfair and influenced by defeated AAP candidates. MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal defended the budget, explaining that most of the streetlight funds were for maintenance rather than new purchases. He stated that only ₹9 crore was allocated for new streetlights, with additional funds set aside for unexpected expenses. Tensions escalated during the meeting as opposition members demanded detailed explanations for the budget allocations. Some councillors attempted to rush the dais, leading to intervention by security personnel. The mayor accused the opposition of causing unnecessary disruption, insisting they had been informed about the agenda beforehand. Amid the unrest, the mayor declared the budget passed, prompting the opposition to stage a walkout. They questioned the involvement of multiple MLAs in the session, arguing that only the mayor and MC commissioner should respond to their inquiries.