The City Corporation Council on Thursday unanimously
rejected the application for No Objection Certificates (NOC) for two bar
licenses to be awarded to two three-star hotels in the city.

The
proposal was part of the supplementary agenda in a previous council and
part of the main agenda in the meeting on February 28. It was postponed
following protests from the Opposition.

The council
meeting was held amidst protests outside the hall by activists of Madhya
Nirodhana Samithi, Youth League, Socialist Democratic Party of India,
and Welfare Party. The protests were against allegations of corruption
against councillors and the awarding of bar licenses. Police removed the
activists who tried to barge into the council hall, and the meeting
continued behind locked doors.

The council floor leader, M. Mohanan of the CPI (M), said there was no need for the council to take a decision on bar licenses.

“The
State government passed the burden of awarding licenses to the local
self government bodies. However, there is no clarity on the procedures.
So it is best for the Corporation not to take any decision on the same,”
said Mr. Mohanan.

The Indian Union Muslim League
(IUML) leader, K. Mohammed Ali, responded by saying that the ruling
party was trying to shift its responsibilities by blaming the State
government, and accused it of having an unholy nexus with the ‘spirit
lobby’.

The accusation led to unruly scenes, following which the council rejected the two items in the agenda unanimously.

Earlier,
an adjournment motion was moved by CPI (M) Councillor C.P. Musafir
Ahmed demanding the State government to take strict action against the
police officers involved in the police check for two-wheeler riders
without helmet that led to the death of two youths at the Thiruvannur
bypass in an accident on Saturday.

The Opposition
members raised a cry of protest alleging that Mayor A.K. Premajam had
rejected an adjournment motion moved by the IUML Councillor A.V. Anwar,
in whose ward the incident occurred.

However, the
Mayor said the motion moved by Anwar demands only the implementation of
the report by Ilangovan Committee, which was constituted to enquire into
the Panniyankara issue.

The motion was put to vote and passed with 38 votes against 33.