Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Apr 0: A day after Congress corporators at the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) staged a walkout from the council’s general meeting after mayor Premananda Shetty deferred to accord recognition of leader of opposition in the council, former MLA J R Lobo on Thursday April 1 said that such attitude of the BJP corporators was not disrespect to A C Vinayaraj but it was disrespect to the district Congress.
Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan, Lobo said, “What is wrong in district Congress committee president writing a letter to the MCC commissioner urging him to select A C Vinayaraj as the opposition party leader? In the coming days, Congress will expose all misadministration and corruption of BJP in the MCC and works of Smart City project.”
Stating that the Congress while ruling the MCC for years never showed any kind of disrespect while recognising opposition party leader. “Even when BJP had no 1/3 quorum in the council, Congress followed the tradition and never dishonoured opposition. Since 1984, Congress has ruled the MCC for several years. In 1988, When Sadhashiva Bhandary was the mayor, BJP had only 6 seats, but Congress had 42 seats. Even then, Congress made Narayana Shetty of the BJP as opposition party leader. In 1990, BJP had won only 10 seats and then the Congress had 34 seats had made BJP the opposition party. The same was continued during 2002 to 2007. Congress never disrespected the opposition and always upheld the tradition,” he said.
Terming the opposition and ruling party two wheels of a vehicle, Lobo said that a good administration can be given only when the ruling and opposition party work in coordination.
He also said what is happening locally, the same is going in state and union governments ruled by the BJP. “The same thing is projected here. Ruling without opposition is like dictatorship," he said.
He also said that as per the law, communication is done through the MCC commissioner as the mayor has no executing powers. Congress will condemn this irresponsible attitude of the BJP, he said.
Former minister Abaychandra Jain said that Congress had given the position of opposition leader when the BJP had two seats, even in the assembly. “This conspiracy of the BJP is unhealthy. An opposition is very important. In the coming days, loopholes of the BJP will be exposed before the public at all levels. They are trying to escape from responsibility.”
Youth Congress leader Mithun Rai said, "From two decades, Congress always respected the leader of opposition in the council. For a good administration, the opposition is necessary. BJP failed to recognise A C Vinayaraj as the opposition party leader fearing that he will expose their misadministration and corruption.”
He also said that BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel should interfere and resolve the issue by recognising Vinayaraj as opposition party leader in the council before they go to people. “If not, the Congress will hold severe protests and if necessary Congress corporators will file resignation,” he said.