The Hindu 22.12.2010
TDP obstructs GHMC meeting
Special Correspondent
|
Party corporators seek resolution expressing solidarity with farmers |
Mayor refuses to allow any such resolution
Says Council should discuss civic issues alone
agitated: Telugu Desam corporators protesting at the GHMC council
meeting on Tuesday.
HYDERABAD: Slogan shouting and filibustering Telugu Desam corporators
were chucked out of the GHMC council meeting on Tuesday for demanding
that a resolution be passed to express solidarity with farmers.
Yet, they thwarted several attempts by marshals to remove them from
the hall when Mayor B. Kartika Reddy suspended them. She refused to
allow any such resolution stating it was an issue to be raised in the
Assembly and the council will discuss civic issues only.
Congress corporators vociferously supported her, the BJP supported
such a resolution whereas the Majlis expressed solidarity with the
farmers in distress, but appealed to the TDP to allow civic issues be
debated before taking up any other resolution.
TDP members without their floor leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy, who
was ill, were on their feet as soon as the meeting began at noon with
placards showcasing the ongoing indefinite fast by their party president
N. Chandrababu Naidu seeking better financial package to farmers at
NIMS.
Adjournment
Deputy Mayor Jaffer Hussain’s plea to let the meeting continue as it
was being held after four months and that the rain had adversely
affected city infrastructure too was not heeded. “We are not against the
meeting, we only want a resolution supporting farmers be passed,”
retorted TDP’s K. Rama Rao (Kapra).
A 10-minute adjournment and later an advanced lunch break had no
affect as the TDP corporators continued their protest. The scene looked
straight out of Assembly as they traded charges with Congress members
and it almost turned ugly when they wrenched out mikes in their scuffle
with marshals. The Mayor kept on asking TDP members to go out in vain.
Marshals too were unable to do so as they lacked a women’s wing.
A couple of male members were lifted out, yet they managed to troop
back as their female counterparts successfully resisted for a long time
even while claiming to have been assaulted by a few woman constables.
Order prevailed only when marshals managed to take them out nearly an hour after lunch.
