Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

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Mangalore, Oct 2: In an irony of sorts, a verbal clash erupted between members of the district Congress committee over the issue of discipline, when they gathered to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary near Town Hall here on Thursday October 2.

After garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, district Congress interim president Ibrahim Kodijal said that people should follow the example set by the Father of the Nation and lead a disciplined life like he did.

At this point, former president of Youth Congress Arun Coelho interrupted Kodijal's speech and told him not to preach about discipline and values propounded by Gandhi, when he had himself 'failed to follow them'.

This led to confrontation between supporters and detractors of Kodijal, bringing to fore the indifferences within the district Congress.

It is learnt that when chief minister Siddaramaiah had come to inaugurate the Regional Science Centre at Pilikula on Wednesday October 1, Ibrahim did not get a pass to enter the airport and had allegedly misbehaved, resulting in a minor clash between the Congress leaders. For this reason, Coelho is said to have taken a dig at Kodijal for speaking on discipline.

MLA J R Lobo and MLC Ivan D'Souza among others were present on the occasion.