Bengaluru: Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP) corporators staged a walkout on Thursday from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council meeting demanding Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into irregularities in the developmental works in Rajarajeswari Nagar Assembly constituency.
The agitating members have also blamed Mayor Padmavathi for being biased. Bedlam prevailed in the monthly council meeting when three corporators – Mamatha Vasudev of BJP, Asha Suresh of Congress and Manjula Narayanaswamy of JD(S) alleged MLA Munirathna’s harassment while taking up developmental works. When BJP and JD(S) corporators raised slogans in support of the three corporators, Congress corporators vied with them in raising counter slogans.
As soon as the Council meeting began, Mamatha Vasudev rushed into the well of the council and started showing documents and photos on the alleged harassment of MLA Munirathna. At this juncture, Mayor Padmavathi tried to pacify Mamatha by stating that she had already spoken with BBMP officials of Rajarajeswari Nagar zone from 11.30 am to 3 pm on Wednesday but the corporator continued her dharna.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Council Padmanabha Reddy said the issue of MLA harassing women corporators in Rajarajeswari Nagar Assembly constituency has been brought to Council notice on many occasion but nothing has been done. Reddy blamed the Mayor for not conducting the Council meeting properly. He also demanded the Mayor to probe the irregularities in Rajarajeswari Nagar by the CBI.
Asha Suresh of Congress said a few Congress corporators blamed me for the alleged Rs 120 crore scam in my ward. “Am I Mayor or Commissioner? Or MLA allotted grants worth hundred crores? I am an ordinary corporator. I did no wrong,’’ Asha Suresh said.
At this juncture, Mayor Padmavathi got angry and gave a stern warning to Asha Suresh not to speak irresponsibly in the Council. “I will have to suspend you from the Council if you continue making allegations against me and Commissioner,’’ she said.
Objecting for putting the photo of defeated Congress candidate at a drinking water unit at HMT ward, the corporator questioned the Mayor about the delay in removing that photo from the water unit. “You promised me to remove that photo on Wednesday but it is still there. What has happened to your assurance?’’ the corporator asked the mayor.
The mayor asked the Joint Commissioner of Rajarajeswari Nagar zone to remove the photo immediately and take the photo of the drinking water unit after removing the photograph and WhatsApp it to me.
Meanwhile, Mamatha Vasudev demanded the mayor to order a probe into the irregularities in the developmental works at JP Park ward. The mayor asked her to give it in writing. At this juncture, Asha Suresh and Manjula Narayanaswamy joined Mamatha who was staging dharna in the well of the Council. BJP corporators, led by Padmanabha Reddy, also joined the agitating members.
