MiC quot;muzzlingquot; press: Oppn

MUMBAI, August 11: The Congress-led opposition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC today lambasted Mayor Nandu Satam for issuing a diktat to council members against interacting with the press individually on the ocassion of completion of 100 days of the Mayor-in-Council. Later, they staged a walkout.

The press had organised meets with the members for information on goings-on in different departments. However, after just two conferences, Satam issued a directive to members cautioning them from giving any information individually. However, he acceded to a meeting with all members together, but in his presence.

This, said opposition members today, was tantamount to breach of freedom of the council members. The press, said Kishan Jadhav, had the right to be informed about what is happening in the MiC. 8220;The Mayor is terrorising the council members,8221; he stated.