Congress Corporators and Youth Congress workers staged a gherao of the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) headquarters on Monday evening, demanding resolution of civic problems faced by residents. Irked congressmen gathered at Malviya Chowk at 5 pm and marched towards the JMC headquarters. They blocked the entrance and attempted a lock-down of the building. Some Congress workers tried to climb over the main gate but were stopped by heavy police presence. Police had to use water cannons to push back the agitating crowd. Barricades had been erected outside the JMC headquarters in anticipation of the massive protest and a large police force was deployed at the site.

 

During the protest, Congress leaders accused Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh of making hollow announcements and misleading the public. They said development works across the city have come to a complete halt. Leaders listed a series of civic failures including no cleaning of drains and nullahs, no proper sanitation, garbage piling up in residential, commercial areas and stalled services including lease transfers, map approvals and door-to-door garbage collection. Congress leaders warned that if the Mayor does not wake up and address public grievances soon, the party will intensify its agitation. The protest was carried out under the guidance of the City Congress Committee, with the Congress corporators and City Youth Congress leading the march.