BENGALURU: At a time when the city was expecting corporators to discuss the impending water shortage and the persisting garbage menace, the BBMP Council on Tuesday descended into chaos with Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party corporators getting physical with each other, leaving at least five corporators injured. The council was adjourned abruptly, leaving important issues for discussion for the next meeting.
The trouble started when Congress corporator G.K. Venkatesh spoke derogatorily of BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa. As he was countering BJP corporator Umesh Shetty, who alleged that illegal khatas were being issued in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone of the BBMP, Mr Venkatesh took out a CD from his pocket, held it up and said, “This CD is not like the poor diary which BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa is using as a tool to tarnish the image of the Congress.”
BJP corporators, who objected to the slight aimed at Mr Yeddyuprappa, gathered in the well of the council and demanded immediate suspension of Mr Venkatesh, leading to acrimony. The council chair adjourned the meeting immediately. When the council met again at 3 pm, BJP corporators protested and demanded the suspension of Mr Venkatesh.
Congress members tried to prevent BJP councillors from protesting which led to the jostling. In the melee, Congress corporators Roopa R., Irshad Begum and Mr Abdul Wajid were injured. Upset over the turn of events, Mayor G. Padmavathi commented, “Instead of discussing the city’s development, BJP corporators are indulging in fights only to get publicity. Mr Venkatesh did not use any unparliamentary language and he cannot be suspended.”
Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy said, “The single-point agenda of Congress corporators is to create ruckus in the council. Do they have any issues to raise for the welfare of the people? Even when we take up social issues, they object.”
