The Delhi Government has released Rs 293 crore in advance to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) to disburse the salaries of employees of the civic body, Urban Development Minister Satyendra Jain said on Friday.

“This amount was released on Thursday considering the problem the North MCD was facing in paying salaries to its employees.

Now, we hope that the civic body will release the salaries as soon as possible. We have given them an advance for the next installment,” he said.

However, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor termed Jain’s remarks as misleading saying that the Delhi Government has not released any specific advance amount for salary payment to NMC employees.

“The case related to issuing funds to the corporation is under hearing in Delhi High Court and the Rs 293 crore released today are part of ‘Basic Tax Assignment’ fund for the current quarter,” he said.

Kapoor further said that the Delhi Government had to release a second installment of funds to the NMC for 2021-22 on July 1, that was not released on time following which the matter was raised in Delhi High Court.

“The court on July 8 observed that the Delhi Government should release at least Rs 293 crore out of the second installment of funds under BTA,” he said.

“Jain has tried to mislead by claiming that Rs 293 crore has been paid in advance. Factually the funds are just a part of total funds and have been released after 22 days delay under the court order,” he added.

Replying to a question on the alleged attack on Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta’s house, Jain said “It is being rumored that people from the Aam Aadmi Party attacked his house. However, it is important to know whether this attack has actually even taken place or not.”