AMC Budget Session Erupts in Chaos: Papers Thrown, Walkout Staged Over VS Hospital Funds
The general board meeting of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) opened on Thursday with raised voices and rising tempers, quickly descending into a political showdown. As ruling BJP and opposition Congress councillors debated critical allocations for VS Hospital, the school board, and MJ Library, the atmosphere turned confrontational with sharp exchanges dominating the proceedings.
VS Hospital Budget Triggers Dramatic Protest
The proposed allocations for VS Hospital became the focal point of intense controversy, triggering the most dramatic scenes of the day. Senior councillor Iqbal Sheikh launched a scathing attack on the proposed figures—Rs 257.59 crore for 2025-26 and Rs 2012.57 crore for 2026-27—alleging they were "merely for show" and completely disconnected from the harsh reality faced by patients in Ahmedabad.
"If such a large budget is being approved, why are poor patients in Ahmedabad not getting treatment?" Sheikh demanded during the heated session. He raised serious questions about the hospital's operational status, claiming that not a single super-speciality department was functional at VS Hospital and that patients were being routinely referred to SVP Hospital instead.
In an emotional outburst, Sheikh declared, "Why is VS Hospital being deliberately shut down? I refuse to be part of a false budget. It is a sin to remain silent when the interests of the poor are betrayed." His protest reached a dramatic climax when he threw the budget papers directly onto the mayor's desk before storming out of the session in a visible walkout.
BJP councillors immediately responded with demands for Sheikh's suspension, labeling his actions as completely unacceptable and a breach of parliamentary decorum. The criticism extended beyond Sheikh's protest, with councillor Rajshree Kesari alleging that VS Hospital had witnessed 10 scandals in the last 10 years, including cases related to illegal clinical trials where no serious action had been taken.
School Board Budget Faces Allegations of Manipulation
As the debate shifted to the school board budget, opposition councillor Jagdish Rathod leveled further serious allegations against the ruling administration. He accused the BJP of presenting manipulated figures in the budget and made startling claims about conditions in school board-run institutions.
"Not a single BJP councillor's child studies in a school board-managed school," Rathod asserted, highlighting what he described as systemic neglect. He detailed multiple concerns:
- Children receiving small-sized uniforms that don't fit properly
- Teachers burdened with approximately 70% administrative work
- English-medium schools being operated by contract migrant teachers
Standing committee chairman Devang Dani firmly rejected these criticisms, defending the administration's educational initiatives. "Children from private schools seek admission in school board schools. School board students receive AI education," he stated, emphasizing the quality and appeal of municipal educational programs.
Tensions Escalate with Controversial Remarks
The school board debate witnessed another escalation when a female Congress councillor used controversial language on the floor of the house. Mayor Pratibha Jain promptly intervened, ordering that the remarks be expunged from the official record to maintain decorum and prevent further inflammatory exchanges.
By the conclusion of the first day, what began as a routine budget session had transformed into a high-decibel political confrontation. Both political factions traded serious charges regarding the state of public healthcare and municipal education in Ahmedabad, with papers thrown, walkouts staged, and suspension demands raised—creating an unprecedented level of disruption in AMC proceedings.
The session highlighted deep divisions between the ruling and opposition parties on fundamental issues of public service delivery, budget transparency, and administrative accountability. The dramatic events underscored the intense political polarization surrounding municipal governance in one of India's largest cities.
