The Hindu 01.12.2009
Pandemonium at Shimoga CMC meeting
Special Correspondent
| Ugly scenes as councillors exchange abuses; heated argument between Ganni and Mariappa |
CONCERN: BJP councillor S.N. Channabasappa participating in a debate at the meeting of the City Municipal Council in Shimoga on Monday.
SHIMOGA: Pandemonium prevailed at a monthly meeting of the Shimoga City Municipal Council here on Monday with two councillors hurling abuses at each other.
The meeting witnessed ugly scenes when BJP councillor Shankar Ganni complained that workers absorbed through Man Power Agency were not working properly.
He said that they did not respond properly even when councillors asked them personally over phone to arrange for supply of water through tankers in the areas.
Congress councillor S.K. Mariappa, who intervened in the discussion, sought to know in a raised voice from Municipal president N.J. Rajasekhar details about Man Power Agency and wanted to know who appointed it for the work.
Mr. Ganni, who was irritated by this intervention, asked Mr. Rajasekhar to give reply to his query first which led to a heated argument between him and Mr. Mariappa.
At this stage, another BJP councillor Somasekhar asked Mr. Mariappa in singular to sit down which irritated him as he too reacted angrily in the same vein.
The meeting was taken aback by this sudden development.
The Municipal president made repeated requests to the members to refrain from personal criticism and maintain the dignity of the House. But the requests were to no avail as an enraged Mr. Mariappa rushed towards the well of the House to express his anger. However, he was pacified by councillors Kashi Vishwanath, Yogish and others.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Rajasekhar said that he was pained by the conduct of the councillors. He asked them mind their language in discussions. He said that he was prepared to set right things if the functioning of the Man Power Agency was not satisfactory.
Mr. Somasekhar offered regrets for his remarks but insisted that he would not allow the meeting to continue unless Mr. Mariappa too tendered an apology to the House.
The meeting witnessed pandemonium again when Mr. Mariappa said that he would rather resign than tender an apology.
BJP councillor S.N. Channabasappa, who expressed concern over the incident, said that it [incident] had come as an insult to citizens. This led to trouble again forcing the meeting to be adjourned for some time.
Earlier, the meeting viewed seriously the deteriorating road conditions and the water supply.
The councillors complained that the dust rising during repair work had proved to be a serious health hazard and suggested that the roads under repairs be watered at least twice every day to help the rising dust settle.
The meeting could not pass any resolution on a ban on cow slaughter, although the Congress and the BJP extended their formal support to it.
