DHARWAD: Protest and disruption of proceedings by opposition Congress members, forced ouster of protesting members by the mayor and passing of 11 regular and 10 additional resolutions by the ruling BJP members in the absence of opposition without discussion within less than ten minutes.
This was the scenario at the general body meeting of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation here on Tuesday. The meeting was scheduled for 11am but was delayed as Congress members who had come with empty vessels to protest the irregular and erratic water supply in the twin cities protested at the entrance of the meeting hall and blocked the entry of mayor Iresh Anchatageri.
When efforts to convince the protesters failed, the BJP members came to the rescue of the mayor and enabled him to enter the meeting hall by pushing aside the Congress members. In the melee, Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla suffered a minor internal injury and was taken to a chamber for medical attention. The Congress councillors, who seemed determined not to allow the proceedings to take place, continued shouting inside the hall. When appeals by the mayor to stop the protest and debate the issues did not yield results, the mayor adjourned the meeting for a few minutes. When the meeting resumed, Congress members sat in front of the mayor’s table and continued to shout. When the situation did not seem to cool down, Anchatageri ordered the ouster of all the Congress members except the leader of the opposition. When the protesting members refused to leave the hall, Marshals were called in. In the absence of women Marshals, women employees of HDMC were summoned at act as Marshals and send the women Congress corporators out of the hall.
Even after going out, the Congress members kept on disrupting the meeting.
Meanwhile, HDMC Commissioner B Gopalkrishna explained the measures taken by the civic body to enhance its revenue. Mayor Anchatageri called for members’ opinion on 11 regular and 10 additional resolutions, and all were passed without any discussion. Mayor adjourned the meeting sine die.
This was the scenario at the general body meeting of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation here on Tuesday. The meeting was scheduled for 11am but was delayed as Congress members who had come with empty vessels to protest the irregular and erratic water supply in the twin cities protested at the entrance of the meeting hall and blocked the entry of mayor Iresh Anchatageri.
When efforts to convince the protesters failed, the BJP members came to the rescue of the mayor and enabled him to enter the meeting hall by pushing aside the Congress members. In the melee, Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla suffered a minor internal injury and was taken to a chamber for medical attention. The Congress councillors, who seemed determined not to allow the proceedings to take place, continued shouting inside the hall. When appeals by the mayor to stop the protest and debate the issues did not yield results, the mayor adjourned the meeting for a few minutes. When the meeting resumed, Congress members sat in front of the mayor’s table and continued to shout. When the situation did not seem to cool down, Anchatageri ordered the ouster of all the Congress members except the leader of the opposition. When the protesting members refused to leave the hall, Marshals were called in. In the absence of women Marshals, women employees of HDMC were summoned at act as Marshals and send the women Congress corporators out of the hall.
Even after going out, the Congress members kept on disrupting the meeting.
Meanwhile, HDMC Commissioner B Gopalkrishna explained the measures taken by the civic body to enhance its revenue. Mayor Anchatageri called for members’ opinion on 11 regular and 10 additional resolutions, and all were passed without any discussion. Mayor adjourned the meeting sine die.