Officials, MPs and MLAs present as drain-work dispute briefly flares
Saharanpur: A verbal disagreement between Congress MP Imran Masood and Samajwadi Party MLA Ashu Malik during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Saharanpur on Wednesday briefly escalated into a heated exchange over the progress of drain-construction work, a recorded video of the interaction on social media showed. Both leaders later sought to play down the incident, saying there was no serious altercation and insisting the meeting was focused on public issues.
District officials, ministers, elected representatives and SP MP Iqra Hasan were among those present at the meeting, which was convened to review development projects across the district. The disagreement began when officials responded to queries on drain work and Masood — who chaired the meeting — asked that unresolved items be put to Malik for clarification. Malik questioned the accuracy of officials' responses and said the information should be verified, prompting the exchange.
- Meeting: DISHA review at Saharanpur Development Building
- Key attendees: Imran Masood (Congress MP), Ashu Malik (SP MLA), Iqra Hasan (SP MP), district officials and other MLAs
- Issue: Progress and verification of drain-construction work
Video of the argument, which circulated on social media, captured a point at which Malik told Masood, "Chai-pakodi khane thodi aaye hain?" — a colloquial rebuke suggesting the meeting was not a social gathering. According to reports, Masood responded by urging Malik to present his concerns in accordance with meeting norms.
"There is no such dispute or altercation between us. Such things happen between two leaders during meetings or rallies; it is not a big deal," Malik said, according to ANI. "We were putting forward our issues, and 80 per cent of the issues were ours. We do not need anyone's permission for this."
Masood, who chaired the session, similarly sought to minimise the friction, saying there was "no altercation" and that he was ensuring the meeting proceeded in an orderly manner. Both leaders emphasised that raising and resolving public grievances remained the primary purpose of the proceedings.
Local political implications and administrative follow-up
The exchange has attracted attention partly because it surfaced at a formal administrative review and because it involved two leaders from allied parties in the state opposition coalition. While both participants have publicly downplayed the incident, the episode highlights the scrutiny that inter-party relations receive in Uttar Pradesh's charged political environment, particularly when coalition partners share public platforms for administration-focused forums such as DISHA.
Officials present said the meeting continued after the disagreement was contained and that development items, including the drains under discussion, would be followed up through the standard administrative channels. No formal complaint or escalation from either leader was reported following the meeting.
| Item | Status reported at meeting |
|---|---|
| Drain-construction progress | Officials responded; clarity sought by MLAs |
| Public grievances raised | Majority of issues flagged by MLAs, per Malik |
For residents of Saharanpur, the episode serves as a reminder that administrative reviews remain the principal forum for oversight of local projects. Both leaders reiterated that they would continue to press for delivery on civic works and that occasional sharp exchanges should not detract from the task of following up on development commitments.
Observers said such interactions often become high-profile when recorded and shared online, but added that they do not necessarily indicate a breakdown in working relations unless followed by formal statements or departures from agreed political coordination. As of the close of Wednesday's meeting, neither side had lodged any formal protest and routine project follow-up was reported to be proceeding.
