When in a fix, BJP just ends NMC meet

Sure that a belligerant opposition would raise the disqualification issue in the Civic House BJP leaders, dealt with the situation by simply adjourning the meeting immediately after it was convened.

The adjournment of the House took place in a dramatic manner. The House was convened in the afternoon by Deputy Mayor Saraikar, who presided in place of Mayor Vasundhara Masurkar. After the ritual Vande Mataram, Saraikar immediately called for adjournment without citing any reason and asked members to stand up for the national anthem. Even as the opposition members, who were caught off-guard, demanded explanation and prevented the anthem to be played on microphone, the ruling party members sang the national anthem and closed down the proceedings. Later, some of the opposition members vented their anger by damaging microphones and flowerpots on the table of the presiding authority.

Later speaking to newsmen, leader of the ruling party, Ashok Goyal, justified the adjournment move saying that the BJP wanted time to seek a legal opinion on the validity of the Municipal Commissioner8217;s move.

Both Mohadikar and Dhawade are presently in jail. Mohadikar was arrested in connection with a murder case nearly three years ago, while Dhawade, who once held a position in the now defunct mayor-in-council, was detained under the MPDA Act less than an year ago.

The new Municipal Commissioner, T Chandrashekhar recently forwarded a proposal to the state government to disqualify these two members on the grounds that they were absent from the meetings of the house for more than six months without citing any satisfactory reason.

Former mayor and leader of the Samata Lokmanch, Sardar Atalbahadur Singh contested the Commissioner8217;s decision and said that both members were not staying away from meetings as they were lodged in jail and the court had not permitted them to attend the meetings, he said.

The former mayor felt that there have been instances in the past where members of the House were lodged in jail but were not disqualified. 8220;Former deputy mayor late Gangadharrao Phadnavis and senior members like late Nanaji Shastri were also detained under MISA in 1977 during emergency, but they were not disqualified,8221; Atalbahadur Singh pointed out.

When asked if these stalwarts could be compared with the two members having criminal backgrounds, Atalbahadur Singh said he was only drawing comparison between the two events, where members were not in a position to attend meetings for being in jail.

Atalbahadur Singh, who was present at the NMC8217;s Raje Raghoji Bhonsale Town Hall during the day, held discussions with the BJP leadership and demanded that they express solidarity with him. He was reportedly upset over the neutral stand taken by the BJP on the issue. A disappointed-looking Atal said he expected the BJP to protect its allies.

Atal informed that he had waited long with a hope that the BJP would examine the issue, but he had to consult legal experts later. He said many of them had spoken of the error in Mr. Chandrashekhar8217;s action. Besides, Atal said, he also discussed this issue with opposition parties, including the Congress, RPI and the Janata Dal, and was assured support for a move against the Commissioner8217;s action. Taking into consideration all these factor, Atal said his party had decided to go to court against the proposal.

While Atalbahadur Singh was training his guns against the Commissioner, BJP leaders, namely Deputy Mayor Himmatrao Saraikar, Chairman of the Standing Committee, Gopal Gwalani and Leader of the Ruling Party, Ashok Goyal, maintained a studied silence.

Replying to a question, Goyal said his party had not sought any legal opinion on the disqualification till date, as they had not been approached by the allies. However, he categorically clarified that the party did not intend to shield criminals, but would only check the legal validity of the Commissioner8217;s move.