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Mayor adjourns MCC meet as corporator's remark creates furore

Take steps against all illegal service apartments, homestays in Mangalore
Last Updated 31 July 2012, 18:13 IST

A statement by the CPM Corporator Jayanthi Shetty while condemning the attackers on youth at birthday party at Padil on Saturday as ‘Sangh Parivar goondas’ and denial to withdraw her statement, irked the ruling BJP corporators, at monthly meeting of the Mangalore City Corporation here on Tuesday.

The pandemonium forced Mayor Gulzar Banu to postpone the meeting, without carrying out any concrete discussions on other issues haunting the City.  As soon as the monthly meeting commenced, Corporator Mariamma Thomas said that the Council should pass a resolution to condemn the attack on youth. 

Corporator Deepak Poojary said that Dakshina Kannada is known as educational hub of the country. The district has made names in all the sectors. However, Saturday’s incident on attacking youth who were partying at a homestay has made all of us to bow our head in shame. The attackers have outraged the modesty of women and stringent action should be initiated against the attackers. 

Reacting to it, Shanker Bhat said that the incident needs to be condemned. “However, we need to check whether the homestay has been functioning as per the law by paying all the tax to the MCC. There is a court and the police to decide over the attackers,” he said. 

Enraged over the statement, the Congress members Naveen D’Souza, Appi, Ashok and Harinath urged the MCC to take measures against all the illegal service apartments and homestay in Mangalore. “The attackers should be booked under Goonda Act. Corporator visiting a spot in his ward is common. However, the police arresting him should be condemned.” 

Shashidhar Hegde said that the issue of attack should not be politicised. It was the total failure of the district administration in handling the issue. Adding to it, Sudheer Shetty said that there are over 11 homestays functioning illegally in Mangalore City Corporation limits. “We need to inform the State government, on the way ACP Jagannath handled Corporator Mohan Padil when he visited the spot.” 

Reason for furore

While condemning the incident, CPM Corporator Jayanthi Shetty termed the attackers as ‘Sangh Parivar goondas,’ which led to furore among the BJP Corporators. One of the BJP corporators went to the extent of terming CPM as ‘Naxals’. As Mariamma Thomas and Jayanthi began shouting slogans against those who outraged the modesty, at homestay and against moral policing, the BJP Corporators entered into the well of the house and created chaos in the meeting. The allegations and counter allegations continued which forced the Mayor to adjourn the meeting. However, even during the break, women coporators from the BJP rushed to Jayanthi and urged her to withdraw her statement.

The BJP corporators Tilak Raj, Naveenchandra and others had an argument with Jayanthi for over 15 minutes. The Congress members who tried to pacify both, could not be successful in their attempt. 

After the meeting resumed, Shanker Bhat said that the preconceived notion on Sangh Parivar has forced Jayanthi to make such a comment. “Without looking at the party affiliation, our Corporators have helped the residents of Jayanthi’s ward. She must tell sorry or withdraw the statement.” Sudheer Shetty even went to the extent of announcing that all the help given to the CPM member will be withdrawn by the BJP corporators, to which, Mayor Gulzar Banu directed Jayanthi to give clarification.  

Jayanthi said that she has not made any comment against BJP corporators. Hence, there was no need to seek pardon from the Council. “Even the BJP corporators have termed the CPM as Naxals. The CPM is always for the pro-people work,” she said.  Deputy Mayor Amithakala and MCC Commissioner Dr Harish Kumar were present. 

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(Published 31 July 2012, 18:11 IST)

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