BJP councillors get slap-happy

Congress councillor from ward no. 25,Nitin Bharucha,got up and protested against allotting 12 plots reserved for education purposes to private parties. In the process,Bharucha and standing committee chairman Bhimji Patel have had heated arguments after which BJP councillor from ward no. 6,Kanti Balar,slapped Bharucha.

As other councillors from both the parties joined the issue and situation seemed going out of control,Mayor Raju Desai pacified the members and called off the meeting.

Later,both sides filed complaints with Chowk Bazaar police station.

On Thursday morning,Congress leaders,including party’s Surat unit president Ashok Jirawala,met Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthaana and Municipal Commissioner M K Das and demanded action against the BJP councillor.

The second incident took place on Tuesday. Residents of Sant Jalaram housing society were facing problems of drinking water for the past few days and they approached local BJP councillor Dasbhai Dhangal alias Purshottam Mangukia. Purshottam made a call to civic body’s zonal office at Katargam asking for a water tanker to be sent to the area.

The tanker took some time to arrive even as women protested outside Purshottam’s house. When the tanker finally arrived,the councillor slapped the driver,Feroz Pathan,twice for coming late. Pathan,who started bleeding from the ear,had to rush to nearby hospital for medical aid. His father Chand Pathan met Municipal Commissioner M K Das on Wednesday with his complaint.

Surat BJP president Purnesh Modi said that in both the incidents,the councillors had been asked for explanations. Modi was evasive on any action his party would take.

City Congress president Ashok Jirawala said his party cadres would hit the street if no action was taken by the authorities concerned against the two councillors.

Mayor Raju Desai,while admitting that the BJP councillor had slapped his Congress colleague,said the Opposition member had provoked him.

On the second incident,Desai said BJP councillor Purshottam had denied having slapped the water tanker driver. “We have not spoken to Feroz Pathan since we have full faith in our elected councillors,” the mayor said.