The Hindu 27.07.2010
Noisy scenes at Corporation Council meeting
Staff Reporter
Kozhikode: The City Corporation Council meeting on Monday witnessed noisy scenes with the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) staging a demonstration inside the Council hall.
The members belonging to the Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the newly inducted Socialist Janata (Democratic) squatted on the floor and shouted slogans against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).
They alleged that the Council was steeped in corruption and stooped in front of the ‘land mafia operating in the city.’ They called upon the Chief Minister to order an inquiry into the ‘land deals involving the Council and private companies.’ The lone Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member did not join the protest.
The sloganeering continued for more than 45 minutes. Amid the din, Mayor M. Bhaskaran, who chaired the meeting, continued with the day’s agenda.
The issue cropped at the start of the Council meeting in the afternoon. Leader of the Opposition in the Council P. Mamu Koya Haji (IUML) sought a clarification from the Mayor for approving agendas in the previous Council after 6 p.m. The Opposition members had alleged that agendas numbered from 57 to 113 were approved at the previous Council after 6 p.m. This was technically not valid, he said.
The UDF members submitted a letter to the Corporation Secretary in this regard. Anything passed after 6 p.m. should be annulled, they said.
The Mayor said the Council had not violated any rules. The rule specifically stated that Council meetings should commence between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
