Bengaluru: The demonetisatin issue has hijacked the special meeting of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council convened on Friday to discuss about the contingency plan to mitigate water woes in the summer. Mayor G Padmavathi had to struggle a lot to pacify the agitating corporators.
The trouble began when Congress corporator Sampath Raj expressed displeasure over demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes. Sampath Raj shouted in the Council and explained how the people in DJ Halli ward have been suffering due to the shortage of currency notes. “The Central Government has introduced Rs 2000 currency notes and withdrew Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes. Now, the people, especially poor and those who do petty business have been suffering a lot. They are not able to get food and other things due to shortage of small denomination currency notes,’’ said Sampath Raj waving a Rs 2000 currency note.
Irked by Sampath Raj’s criticism against the Central Government, Leader of Opposition Padmanabha Reddy demanded Sampath Raj to tender an apology for making such statements in the BBMP Council meeting that was convened to discuss the water problems in the city.
Meanwhile, Mayor Padmavathi intervened and appealed the members to maintain peace in the meeting. The mayor tried to defend Congress corporator by stating that the latter did not make derogatory remarks against any one. “The BJP members should not create trouble here. They have to occupy their seats,’’ the mayor said.
BJP corporator Saraswathamma had said that Congress had looted the country during the last 60 years. It made the mayor to comment that people of this country were aware who had looted the country. Disappointed with Mayor supporting Congress corporator, Leader of Opposition Padmanabha Reddy rushed into the well of the House and demanded the Mayor allow him to reply to Congress corporator’s statement on demonetization. “There are no problems for poor and common man due to demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes. It is those who have black money are facing the heat,’’ Reddy said.