Karnataka - Mangalore   

Councillors upset over turn of events

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, MARCH 31. "It was the most tragic event in the 20-year history of the Mangalore City Corporation," senior councillor and former Mayor Abdul Aziz said. "I have not seen the city fathers pushing and punching colleagues," he said reacting to the incidents that occurred in the Mangalore City Corporation Council budget meeting here today.

Former Mayor Hilda Alva, who was visibly moved at the turn of events, said: "It was ugly... I am ashamed to call myself a member of the council where there is no respect for the rules of the House or the modesty of women councillors."

Speaking to presspersons after the incident, the Mayor, Purandaradasa Kulur, said what had happened in the council today is unprecedented and the BJP councillors should know "how to behave in responsible bodies such as the council." He said the Government called for a meeting on March 30 to discuss the dam issue but faxed a letter on March 22 saying that it had been cancelled, which was not communicated to him by the officials concerned. This led to some embarrassment to him when he met the Secretary to the Chief Minister, S.S. Manjunath. But Mr. Manjunath told him that the meeting will be reconvened in a week, Mr. Kulur said.

Mr. Kulur, who looked disturbed by the incidents, said he and his colleagues in the Congress only wish that the people of Mangalore get their share of water without disruption during summer and beyond. This can be achieved only by constructing an additional vented dam. But the BJP appears to be interested in giving the issue a political twist, which the people of Mangalore can ill afford at this point of time when 20 wards in Mangalore city are reeling under a water crisis, he added.

The Leader of the Opposition in the council, Rajani Dugganna, blamed the Congress for the undesirable happenings in the council. She said even while the BJP members were peacefully demonstrating on the floor of the House, Congress councillors started to push them for no reason, which sparked off a reaction from young BJP members. Mariyamma Thomas, BJP councillor, shared the view of Ms. Dugganna.

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