Belgaum Palike superseded
Move to punish Council for anti-Kannada stand
The State government on Thursday dissolved the Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) Council, with three years and nine months of its term left.
The government’s stern action is in reaction to the anti-Kannada stand of the Maharastra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) which controls the Council. The Belgaum Deputy Commissioner has been appointed as the administrator.
Making the announcement in the Assembly, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said: “Both, the BCC Council and the Mayor, have acted in a way that has hurt the sentiments of people of Karnataka.”
“Besides, the Council has violated various provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act despite the government warning it repeatedly. Hence, the decision has been taken to dissolve the Council,” the Chief Minister further added.
The BCC Council members led by Mayor Manda Balekundri had taken part in a ‘Black Day’ protest organised by the MES on Kannada Rajyotsava Day on November 1, triggering a wide-spread protest by pro-Kannada organisations across the State.
Further, the BCC council, in its meeting held on September 9, 2011, had passed a resolution demanding that the Jnanapith award to Chandrashekara Kambara be withdrawn. The Mayor had even dared the Government to take action against her.
The government subsequently issued a detail show-cause notice to the BCC under section 76, subsection 99(1) of the KMC Act, seeking its reply as to why action should not be initiated to dissolve the Council.
The government had also sought the BCC’s reply on lapses like its failure to conduct the monthly council meetings regularly; misuse of power by the mayor; lack of proper utilisation of government grants; not electing the council and the leader of the opposition, and not acting against members who showed disrespect to Kambara.
The government had also sought the reply on a report sent by the Divisional Commissioner, Belgaum, on the alleged misuse of power by the Mayor. The report stated that the Mayor had been working with a group and not taking other members into confidence.
It is alleged that the Mayor had misused the office by modifying the budget document in spite of stiff opposition.
The BCC Council has been dissolved for the second time in six years for its anti-Kannada stance. The State government in 2005 dissolved the Council for passing a resolution to merge with Maharashtra.
Mayor Balekundri refused to react on the government’s act, while deputy mayor Renu Killekar stated that injustice was meted out to the Marathi-speaking people in Belgaum by forces that wanted the Council be superseded.
The MES criticised the mayor and the deputy mayor for responding to the government’s notice in Kannada. The mayor has three more months to complete her term.
Commissioner Y S Patil said he was awaiting copies from the government of the BCC being superseded. On receipt of the copies, they would be issued to the mayor and deputy mayor.
