Pune: Chaos Erupts at PMC Building as BJP Ex-Corporator Attacks RTI Activist Over Tribal Hostel Work

Pune, 23rd August 2024: An alleged Right to Information (RTI) activist was beaten by a former female corporator of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Pune. The corporator reportedly attacked the RTI activist with footwear, claiming that the activist was obstructing development work. This incident, which occurred in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Main Building, has caused chaos in the area. It is also reported that the RTI activist is affiliated with the Indian National Congress in Pune.

The PMC has undertaken the construction of a tribal girls’ hostel project in the Baner area. The project is expected to be completed as soon as possible, which is why a former female corporator from the BJP is highly invested and diligent about it. She has been following up on this project for the past few years. While some internal facilities are still pending, the majority of the hostel’s construction work has been completed.

The PMC has not issued a work order for the final phase of the hostel project, valued at Rs 2 crore. To address this, the former female corporator from the BJP went to meet the concerned official. During this meeting, an individual claiming to be an RTI activist arrived. A heated argument ensued between the former corporator and the self-proclaimed RTI activist. In a fit of anger, the former corporator struck the RTI activist with her footwear. This led to utter chaos in the PMC building.

The former Pune City President of the BJP was also present in the PMC building during the incident. He immediately rushed to the scene and attempted to mediate. It is reported that the RTI activist involved is close to a Congress leader in Pune and has previously been accused of harassing officials using the RTI Act with political backing. The activist is alleged to have obstructed the work on the tribal girls’ hostel, a significant project for the former corporator, by misusing the RTI Act. He had also submitted letters to the PMC requesting a halt to the project. This is said to be the source of the conflict.