Kozhikode: The high profile visit to the City and the ongoing self-financing college fee issue created a ruckus in the Council meeting of the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation on Monday. BJP members criticized the Mayor for not visiting the Prime Minister and other union ministers who were in the City to attend the BJP National Council meet recently. They said that the Mayor and the civic body missed a golden opportunity to convince the PM about the issues of the City and to get a positive response from the union government.
However, Mayor Thottathil Raveendran retorted saying he was not informed about the Prime Minister’s visit officially. CPM members also reminded the BJP of the protocol violation when the PM came for a visit months back to inaugurate the Global Ayurveda Fest. The then mayor VKC Mammed Koya was not invited for the programme nor given the pass in February. The resolution presented by Chevayur councillor Vidya Balarishnan condemning the government stand on the issue created a heated exchange of words between the opposition and CPM members.
The council unanimously passed a motion presented by Nadakkavu councilor P Kishan Chand condemning the undeclared ban on media persons in courtrooms. “Those who are behind it are not just hindering the job of journalists, but also denying the right of the public to know what is happening in courts,” the resolution said. The Mayor directed the Secretary to give a detailed report on a motion put forward by Civil Station councilor Shobitha K about a new Beverage Corporation outlet coming up in her ward when another one was functioning.
