Mumbai, March 16 Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde stated on Monday that there was no "emergency" regarding the supply of LPG, accusing the Opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) of spreading rumors about a shortage.
Addressing a press conference, Tawde said that despite appeals from the Central government and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, black marketing of LPG is taking place, with people paying Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 for a cylinder that costs Rs 900.
She said that there is no "emergency" regarding the availability of gas cylinders, claiming that rumors about a shortage were being spread by the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).
Urging Mumbaikars not to fall prey to rumors, Tawde said that the rush to stand in queues is contributing to hoarding and black marketing of cylinders.
"People are standing in queues for four or five hours and buying cylinders in the black market. People are hoarding. The mafia is benefiting from this," the mayor said, appealing to citizens not to panic.
Speaking about the issue of flashing lights on her official vehicle, Tawde said that she had not demanded the same and the lights were installed by the civic administration.
"My vehicle did not have a red beacon like the one on top of Kishoritai's (Kishori Pednekar, who is the Leader of Opposition in the BMC) vehicle," she said, adding that after seeking information, she had learnt that the administration had installed the flashing lights as accessories.
The BMC on Sunday said that it had removed red and blue flashing lights from the mayor's official vehicle amid controversy over alleged illegality and accusations of promoting "VIP culture".
Tawde said the Opposition parties are afraid of the work the civic body has carried out in a short time and were therefore raising issues about her sarees, watch and vehicle.
Ganesh Khankar, the BJP's leader of the House in the BMC, said that they had never asked for flashing lights, and the civic administration had installed them.
He also showed a few images of vehicles used by former mayors and videos of their statements supporting the claim that red beacons had been installed on mayors' cars.
He alleged that the Opposition had been disturbed by the action being taken against Rohingyas and Bangladeshis allegedly residing illegally in the city and was trying to divert attention by raising "non-issues" such as the red and blue flashing lights on the mayor's car.
Responding to the BJP's allegation, Pednekar said that the Shiv Sena (UBT) did not raise the issue of red-blue flashing lights, and she had got to know about it following complaints.