Indian Express 02.12.2010
PCMC Mayor in trouble over remark on corporators
Express News Service Tags : Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Yogesh Behl, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, PCMC Posted: Thu Dec 02 2010, 06:06 hrs
Pune: Just when he was celebrating his one year in office, Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Yogesh Behl has found himself in trouble. Corporators have demanded his resignation over his remarks against them.In a press conference on Tuesday, the mayor had made “objectionable” remarks against the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) corporators. To a question on the performance of the Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma and his administration, the mayor said, “Had it not been for Asheesh Sharma and his team, including octroi chief Ashok Munde, the PCMC wouldn’t have seen better days…The corporators would have sold the civic body and gobbled up the funds if Sharma and his team had not worked efficiently.”
The corporators, including some from the mayor’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), are seeking an apology from him for what they describe as an attempt to defame them.
Pimpri-Chinchwad Congress president Bhausaheb Bhoir, who, like the mayor, is also a corporator, said: “The mayor’s remarks were uncalled for and he has no right to sit in the House where he finds corporators worthless.”
Congress spokesperson Babu Nair said Behl should not forget he was a corporator first. “His remarks are highly objectionable. The Congress seeks his resignation and an unconditional apology,” he said.
Independent corporator Maruti Bhapkar, who was praised by the mayor at the press conference, slammed him and demanded his immediate ouster. “I am sure the mayor was not referring to all the corporators. He was probably making the remarks against his own party corporators. Only the NCP has the right to sell the civic body as it is at the helm of affairs. Other corporators have no right, so NCP corporators should feel bad as their own party leader and city mayor is calling them names,” Bhapkar said.
Corporator Tukaram Bondve said,”The mayor should check his own track record before making such comments. I was the one who had tried for a ticket for Behl 20 years ago. He should not forget this and think twice before making such ridiculous remarks.”
At the “C” divisional office meeting on Wednesday, all 21 corporators cutting across party lines registered their protest against the mayor’s remarks. “He is stooping low. He should understand that he is the First Citizen of this industrial town and cannot make disparaging remarks against his own colleagues in the House,” said corporator Seema Salve.
