BJP objects to office allocation to Lobo on MCC complex

BJP activists have alleged that the standing committee of the Mangaluru City Corporation has flouted rules by approving of an office to former MLA J R Lobo is the MCC commercial complex at Mallikatta.

Party corporators and workers staged a protest in front of the MCC office on Wednesday.

The protesters alleged that the Congress is delaying the process of naming the Town Hall after Kudmul Ranga Rao in spite of the Council of the MCC approving of it in 2016. They called it an anti-Dalit policy.

Addressing protesters, Premananda Shetty, leader of the Opposition in the Council, said the Standing Committee for Taxation, Finance and Appeals, in its meeting on July 31, made the allocation of office to Lobo on his request.

“A 500-square ft fully furnished office was approved for three years. The space should have been allocated through public auction. But in this case, it has been allocated to a former MLA illegally,” Shetty alleged.

He urged the authorities to revoke the order to sanction space to the former MLA and warned of approaching the court if the order was not withdrawn. Further, he said that disciplinary action should be initiated against the officials who were responsible for flouting the rules and moving the file seeking approval for allocation of office, to the standing committee by violating the protocol.

“The name of Kudmul Ranga Rao was proposed for Town Hall as Rao as a social reformer who has worked for the upliftment of underprivileged in erstwhile South Kanara. In spite of the Council approving of the proposal, the ruling Congress in the MCC is delaying the process of naming Town Hall after Kudmul Ranga Rao,” he said.

Former MLA Yogish Bhat said that the MLAs from Mangaluru should bring the issue of flouting the protocol while allotting office space to the notice of Assembly Speaker.

“If there is any rule to give office to a former MLA in the commercial complex of MCC, then all former MLAs can submit their applications,” he pointed out.