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Journalism of Courage
NAGPUR, Oct 23: In a display of disgraceful behaviour, Opposition and ruling party members almost came to blows in the House at the General Body Meeting of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation NMC over the question of extension of service of K Siddiqui, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, NMC.
Unruly scenes dominated the proceedings of the five-hour meeting of the NMC held at the Town Hall. Members not only jumped into the well of the House, but even hurled the mike, flower pots and papers to vent their anger over the decision of the House to extend Siddiqui8217;s services.
The meeting started two-and-a-half hours late in the evening. RPI leader Manohar Thool opposed the move. However, when the motion was put to vote, the extension proposal was passed by a voice vote on the strength of the BJP majority.
Thool opposed the decision saying that he had not yet finished his speech before the motion was put to vote. He charged BJP8217;s brute majority behind passing of the resolution. At this opposition, members including Nana Shamkule, Raju Bahadure, Pravin Chavre, Kalyan Singh Kapoor, Prakash Gajbhiye and Yashwant Meshram demanded permission from the Mayor Devendra Phadnavis to allow Thool to finish his speech. The Mayor disagreed, saying voting was already over on the matter.
Prakash Gajbhiye suddenly jumped in the well of the House demanding completion of Thool8217;s speech. More Opposition corporators rushed to the well shouting at the top of their voices. Dilip Pankule turned berserk and threw away the mike and flower pots near the Press gallery. Shashikant Khandwekar, Nana Shamkule, Gopal Gwalani and others tried to pacify the enraged corporators, but to no avail. The din grew despite repeated requests from the Mayor to maintain peace.
Had the NMC bureaucrats not protected Devendera Phadnavis, he might have been hurt in the melee. Slowly things cooled down and the Mayor allowed Thool to complete his speech. But now it was the turn of the BJP corporators. They opposed his decision vociferously. This prompted the Opposition members to start shouting again.
Phadnavis lambasted the corporators for not maintaining the dignity of the House. He warned that the House would not tolerate such unruly behaviour from its members. Shouts of Shame, shame8217; split the air, and Thool repeated his plea to speak.
BJP corporator Chandu Meher8217;s remark that the senior members do not know how to behave, irked Harikrishna Chhangani so much that the two almost came to blows. The House soon took the shape of a battlefield with members on both sides ready to swoop down on each other with ferocity. Thool questioned the presence of police outside the House which raised an uproar. Phadnavis had a tough time controlling the unruly corporators.
The House was adjourned for 10 minutes during which Phadnavis held a meeting with senior members from both sides. When the members assembled again, Phadnavis castigated the members for their bad behaviour8217; saying they had lowered the dignity of the House.
