BMC’s first meeting ends in uproar
   Date :07-Sep-2022

BMC 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
There was uproar in the first meeting of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), which lasted for about a quarter of an hour. Congress corporators lashed out at the ‘Sheher Sarkar’ on the issue of tax. They stood in front of BMC Chairman Kishan Suryavanshi with posters of ‘Badha Hua Kar Vaapis Lo’ (take back the increased tax). The Congress stood before the Chairman at least thrice.
In the meeting that started at 12:15 pm, the Congress started a ruckus on the issue of tax. Before the Mayor’s speech, Leader of the Opposition Shabista Zaki began opposing the agenda of the zone committees. After this, councillors including Sagir, Azizuddin, Yogendra Singh Guddu Chauhan also jumped in the fray. They reached in front of the Chairman’s seat with posters in their hands. Seeing the commotion of Congress councillors, BJP councillors also jumped into the motion, calling out the uproar. Chairman Suryavanshi also tried to pacify the Congress councillors, but in vain. Due to this, Suryavanshi left his chair and the proceedings of the House were adjourned.
At the beginning of the meeting, which started after about 20 minutes, Congress objected to the mike being switched off. After this, they again reached in front of the Chairman’s seat and were adamant on the agenda of the zone committees. When, the MIC member Ravindra Yeti started telling the rules, the Congress councillors attacked the Chairman Suryavanshi regarding tax, license fee etc. Shortly after, the Congress councillors sat on a dharna in front of the Speaker’s chair.
Mayor had to step-in: Amid the uproar, Mayor Malti Rai had to weigh in. She started the discussion regarding the election of zone committees. She demanded from the chairman to announce the date of election of zone committees soon. She also talked about implementing the decision taken in the MIC meeting. After the Mayor’s speech, the chaos started again. Leader of Opposition Zaki protested against increasing the property and water tax. MIC member Yeti took the stand for increasing the tax. On this issue both sides again came face to face. Congress councillors gheraoed the chair for the third time. Congress councillors were adamant on withdrawing the tax hike. They also raised slogans like ‘Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi’. Congress wanted discussion on these issues
n On what basis the corporation has increased all consumer taxes from the year 2019 to 2022. n On August 27, Kanija Bi’s house in ward-25 was demolished. A copy of the order of demolition of the house and copies of departmental orders should also be called on the table. n In respect of the Mayor’s Council resolution dated July 28, 2008 passed against the encroachment in-charge Qamar Saqib, the details of the amount recovered from Shakib and the related file should also be kept in the meeting. All-party meeting held for the first time: For the first time on the lines of the Assembly meeting, the all-party meeting was held on Monday before the meeting of Council. Senior councillors of both the parties, including the Mayor, Leader of the Opposition, were present in the meeting. The discussion was held mainly in relation to the zone committee.