Shouting, files torn at House meet in East
18 May 2012 3:01 AM GMT
The first meeting of East Delhi Municipal Corporation on Thursday witnessed high drama and uproar on the issue of venue.
The meeting that started at two venues — Mayor with BJP councilors in tent and Commissioner along with Opposition Congress in the auditorium — culminated in a blame game. Both Mayor and leader of opposition accused each other for 'breach of privilege'.
The House meeting started around 2 pm at separate venues. Mayor Dr Annapurna Mishra addressed the media in her cabin before leaving for the tent. 'The arrangements in the auditorium are not sufficient to hold the meeting, so it will held in the tent installed in the premises. It is our method of protest against the step-motherly treatment towards EDMC,' said Mishra.
But S S Yadav, Commissioner of EDMC, along with officers went to the auditorium for the meeting. Soon after, leader of opposition Varyam Kaur also arrived there along with Congress councillors and Independents. The councillors of BSP, Samajwadi Party, Independents and a BJP councillor from Jhilmil, Jintendra Singh Shanti, were also sitting there. Starting the discussion, Independent councillor Preeti Singh demanded the commissioner to sit on his chair and start the functioning of the House. 'The venue of the meeting in the agenda circulated among councillors is auditorium so, please call the Mayor to come in the House for proceedings,' said Preeti Singh. Her views were echoed by other councillors.
'If [the Mayor] has any problem, she should have taken the Opposition in to confidence. Who gave permission for the tent?' asked Kaur. Others echoed her views and started raising anti-BJP slogans.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Corporation, Bhagwan Singh, entered the hall. Kaur demanded both the officials to resume chairs. On repeated requests, both the officers resumed their chairs at 2.15 pm, but without the Mayor. Soon the secretary announced that the meeting will be held in the tent. The Opposition leaders then started tearing agenda papers.
Kaur and some other councillors then went to the tent and started shouting in front of the Mayor's chair. Meanwhile, BJP councillors demanded action against officers who were sitting in the House. The opposition members snatched the microphone of the Mayor, files from the table and other documents.
Amid the uproar, the House passed all resolutions in the agenda — appointments of committee members, laptops for all councillors, 2,000 free calls on landline and a SIM card with recharge value of Rs 1,500. The officers of EDMC and DSIIDC also clarified that since the tent was within the premises of the EDMC no permission from any other authority was required in the matter.
'The leader of the House created a very shameful scene. I will refer the matter to privilege committee,' said Dr Mishra. 'The coming meeting of the House will also be held in tents if the auditorium is not renovated,' she said.
The meeting that started at two venues — Mayor with BJP councilors in tent and Commissioner along with Opposition Congress in the auditorium — culminated in a blame game. Both Mayor and leader of opposition accused each other for 'breach of privilege'.
The House meeting started around 2 pm at separate venues. Mayor Dr Annapurna Mishra addressed the media in her cabin before leaving for the tent. 'The arrangements in the auditorium are not sufficient to hold the meeting, so it will held in the tent installed in the premises. It is our method of protest against the step-motherly treatment towards EDMC,' said Mishra.
But S S Yadav, Commissioner of EDMC, along with officers went to the auditorium for the meeting. Soon after, leader of opposition Varyam Kaur also arrived there along with Congress councillors and Independents. The councillors of BSP, Samajwadi Party, Independents and a BJP councillor from Jhilmil, Jintendra Singh Shanti, were also sitting there. Starting the discussion, Independent councillor Preeti Singh demanded the commissioner to sit on his chair and start the functioning of the House. 'The venue of the meeting in the agenda circulated among councillors is auditorium so, please call the Mayor to come in the House for proceedings,' said Preeti Singh. Her views were echoed by other councillors.
'If [the Mayor] has any problem, she should have taken the Opposition in to confidence. Who gave permission for the tent?' asked Kaur. Others echoed her views and started raising anti-BJP slogans.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Corporation, Bhagwan Singh, entered the hall. Kaur demanded both the officials to resume chairs. On repeated requests, both the officers resumed their chairs at 2.15 pm, but without the Mayor. Soon the secretary announced that the meeting will be held in the tent. The Opposition leaders then started tearing agenda papers.
Kaur and some other councillors then went to the tent and started shouting in front of the Mayor's chair. Meanwhile, BJP councillors demanded action against officers who were sitting in the House. The opposition members snatched the microphone of the Mayor, files from the table and other documents.
Amid the uproar, the House passed all resolutions in the agenda — appointments of committee members, laptops for all councillors, 2,000 free calls on landline and a SIM card with recharge value of Rs 1,500. The officers of EDMC and DSIIDC also clarified that since the tent was within the premises of the EDMC no permission from any other authority was required in the matter.
'The leader of the House created a very shameful scene. I will refer the matter to privilege committee,' said Dr Mishra. 'The coming meeting of the House will also be held in tents if the auditorium is not renovated,' she said.
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