Nagpur, September 17: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mayor of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Nanda Jichkar has sparked a controversy for reportedly taking her son to the US on an official trip as her Private Secretary (PS). According to reports, Jichkar had received an invitation to attend the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, California, which took place between September 12 and 14. The mayor took her younger son Priyash Jichkar on the official tour. Priyash is pursuing studies in Mumbai.

The Congress has slammed the mayor over the incident. Congress city chief Vikas Thakre said that Jichkar's son was not a staffer of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. Thakre alleged said, “The mayor has committed a mistake. The post of private secretary is an official one while her son does not work in the NMC. She has also misled her American hosts with this act and has brought disrepute to our country.”

Tanaji Wanve, the Congress leader in the NMC, also criticised Jichkar's act and termed it an inappropriate action. Wavne said that the letter inviting the mayor was addressed to her private secretary and was sent on the official address of the NMC.

Speaking on the issue, Nagpur additional municipal commissioner Ravindra Thakre said, "The expenses of the visit was borne by those hosting the summit. The mayor informed us that she is attending the Global Climate Action Summit." Meanwhile, the party has defended Jhickar’s act. Nagpur BJP president Sudhakar Kohale said that there was nothing wrong in it and in case there is anything wrong, we would discuss it with her.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 17, 2018 07:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).