New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday took on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not distributing payment to Delhi Municipal Corporation employees, saying "it does not have the moral right to run" the institution if the party is not able to release their salaries.

AAP senior leader and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak made the remarks on behalf of the ruling party while addressing a press briefing regarding non-payment of salaries to MCD workers, doctors and nurses of MCD-run hospitals.

He said it is unfortunate that at a time when organisations and institutions are giving bonuses to their workers for the festive season, the MCD is not even paying the salaries to its employees.

Pathak said that a budget of Rs 18,000 crores has been allocated to the MCD, and if they efficiently use even 10 per cent of the funds allotted to them, they will be comfortably be able to provide the salaries for their workers.

However, instead of paying the salaries, the BJP is playing politics, the said AAP leader.

"If the BJP cannot release the salaries of the workers, it does not have the moral right to run the MCD."

At a time when every Indian will be busy celebrating with their families, thousands of workers employed with BJP-ruled MCD are still protesting, Pathak said.

"Doctors and nurses, who had put their lives at stake to treat the Covid patients in Delhi, have resorted to hunger strike due to non-payment of their salaries by the MCD. They have not got their salaries from past 5-6 months."

He said that the BJP has been running MCD since the last 14 years and they have done nothing but "looted" the MCD, leaving them at such a stage that they are unable to pay their workers.

"A budget of Rs 18,000 crores has been allocated to the MCD, and if they efficiently use even 10 per cent of the funds allotted to them, they will be comfortably be able to provide the salaries for their workers. However, instead of paying the salaries, the BJP is playing politics."