The Hindu : Mayor asks for marshals in BMP Council

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 12, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Mayor asks for marshals in BMP Council

By Afshan Yasmeen

BANGALORE, FEB. 11. Prolonged dharnas and unruly scenes in the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council meetings may soon be a thing of the past.

The Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, plans to enforce laws to ensure the smooth conduct of the BMP Council meetings. He wants to post marshals for the purpose. In fact, he has already written to the Commissioner, M.R. Sreenivasa Murthy, asking him to deploy six men and four women constables in the hall. This measure will enable the Mayor to have "suspended" members escorted out of the hall.

Mr. Ramesh claims that ever since he assumed office in November, the Opposition has not cooperated with him. Recently, he had to adjourn meetings for three consecutive days. "Lot of money is wasted at such times. So we need strict laws for smooth conduct. Besides, the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act permits us to do so," the Mayor told The Hindu on Wednesday.

He says that the Act provides for suspension of unruly members and use of "minimum" force to send them out. "There are security guards outside but we have never used them," he adds.

The BMP's Additional Legal Advisor, N. Madaiah, says that according to Rule 18 (3) of Schedule I of the Act, a member suspended by the Mayor has to immediately leave the council hall. And if he or she refuses, "the Mayor can use minimum force to do so". "Though the proposal to have marshals in the council is unique in the BMP's history, there is nothing wrong in it," he adds.

He recalls that when B.V. Puttegowda was the Mayor, the BMP was forced to use the help of the police when a discussion on property tax turned unruly. "It was only in the 90s that attendars and peons here were redeployed as security guards." Mr. Ramesh points out that the present council has young members. "Most of them are political novices and do not know how to present arguments. Only a few know the rules and Sections of the Act. That is why we plan to hold a workshop on behavioural attitudes for all members," he says.

The Opposition members have condemned the proposal as an affront to democracy. "Does this mean we have no right to object to what the ruling party decides? Our stand should also be respected", they say. "The ruling party places subjects for approval without giving us the agenda. They expect us to abide by their decision. That is why we protest," says B.S. Satyanarayana of the BJP.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

Management students slug it out

Six die as car, tipper collide

Mayor asks for marshals in BMP Council

Couple sustain burns

Scooterist run over by bus

BMP budget on February 19

Destitute children now have a home

Around The City

In Bangalore Today