Chaos at MCC’s monthly review meeting

Chaos at MCC’s monthly review meeting

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 31, 2012: The monthly review meeting of the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), which was held on July 31, Tuesday to discuss income, tax appeals, public health, education,  social justice, city project,  development, and statement of accounts, ended up in a quarrel between the BJP and its opposition, with neither party willing to come to an agreement. 

The situation became chaotic when Jayanthi, an independent corporator, recalled the attack on students at the Morning Mist Home Stay and said that the members of the Sangh Parivar are goons. Unable to tolerate this statement, BJP members began verbally attacking Jayanthi and also Mariamma Thomas, another independent corporator, who came to her rescue. When the debate turned fierce and one of the BJP members called Jayanthi’s community as “Naxals,” female BJP members began verbally attacking both Mariamma Thomas and Jayanthi.

 

The members began fighting again after break. Shankar Bhat, former mayor, demanded an apology from Jayanthi for calling Sangh Parivar members goons. He said that, if Sangh Parivar members are goons, then the CPI(M) represents Naxals and murderers. He threatened that the BJP will not allow the meeting to continue until and unless Jayanthi apologizes.

Responding to the situation, Jayanthi refused to apologize as she did not say anything wrong and never associated the BJP with the Sangh Parivar. Instead, she demanded an apology from the opposition for their statements. However, the two parties came to an agreement after sometime and the meeting continued, although not without frequent outbursts of heated arguments. 

Corporator Naveen D’Souza said that the police department and the district administration must take strict action against illegal home stays scattered all over the district. Corporator Appi and Corporator Ashok expressed concern that the city is not safe for girls any more and said that care must be taken to see that such incidents are not reported. 

Shashidhar Hegde, former mayor, urged members to stop quarreling, but work with the district administration to find a solution to this problem. He also voiced his opinion that it was wrong on the part of the police to arrest Corporator Mohan Padil as it was his duty to rush to the spot as soon as he heard the news. The members also felt that the police should not have filed FIRs against the two reporters although they were wrong in not informing the police in advance and shooting a video of the attack. 

The members also submitted a letter to Mayor Gulzar Banu, in which they stated that the civic body condemns the attack on young people at the home stay. Stating that the incident has brought shame to Mangalore, the civic body urged the government to take strict action against the culprits. 

BJP corporators, still furious about Jayanthi’s statement, shouted slogans and protested even after the meeting. 

Mayor Gulzar Banu, Deputy Mayor Amithakala, MCC Commissioner Harish Kumar, and MCC corporators were present for the meeting.