Mud-slinging marks BMC meet

MUMBAI, August 15: Fervent calls for unity and solidarity were cast aside as political differences were used by leaders as a vehicle to rid...

MUMBAI, August 15: Fervent calls for unity and solidarity were cast aside as political differences were used by leaders as a vehicle to ridicule one another at the general body meeting of the BMC, held at the civic headquarters here at midnight on August 14, to celebrate 50 years of India8217;s Independence.

A blasphemous comparison was made between Mahatma Gandhi and deputy municipal commissioner I C Gandhi, who was recently arrested on being caught redhanded for accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh at his residence by the anti-corruption bureau.

Also ironically, as the leaders spoke at length about unity and appealed to each other to work towards the common goal for the betterment of the masses, their mutual differences came to the fore when a proposal of issuing monthly passes to BEST bus commuters was opposed by the opposition members. The same was finally approved by a majority vote. The meeting witnessed uproarious scenes when Congress members protested against 8220;irresponsible8221; statements made by Bharatiya Janata Party BJP group leader Gopal Shetty.

In his eagerness to impress upon his fellow corporators the significance of the freedom struggle, Shetty drew a comparison between Mahatma Gandhi and suspended DMC I C Gandhi. And as if this was not enough, he went on to draw parallels between leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale with the commissioner Girish Gokhale, Bhaurao Gaikwad with AMC Ratnakar Gaikwad, and S M Joshi with AMC Shridhar Joshi.

Stunned, the Congress members vociferously protested against this. Shetty, however tried to pacify them in vain. 8220;I do not mean to harm the feelings of any members. I drew the comparisons only to highlight the present state of affairs,8221; he said. When the noisy protests continued, Mayor Vishakha Raut had to intervene twice to ask the Congress benches to maintain decorum.

When BEST Committee chairman Arvind Nerkar put forward the proposal of the monthly BEST bus passes, he was opposed by former Congress Mayor R T Kadam. Raising an amendment motion, he held that passes were first introduced in 1985, but had to be stopped following a lukewarm response from the commuters.

8220;The proposal of allowing a month8217;s travel for a fare of 23 days per pass should also be changed by issuing the same for a fare of 19 days,8221; he said.

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Of the 221 corporators, only 189 were present at the meeting. Apart from the party group leaders, Raut also invited independent corporator and leader of the Civic Forum, Niyaz Ahmed Vanu to speak. Following a Bombay High Court declaring on formation of forums by independent corporators illegal, Vanu had sought for disbanding his outfit. He had also stopped attending all group leaders meeting subsequently.

However, his speech today raised questions about the future of his forum. After all, he was asked to speak when only a group of leaders were supposed to make speeches.