The first ever general meeting of newly constituted committee of Raigarh Municipal Corporation (RMC) convened to discuss its Budget, ended up in chaos as Congress and BJP members staged a walkout on Saturday.
As soon as the meeting started the Congress corporators staged a boycott opposing the tax proposals in the Budget after they failed to get a satisfactory reply on them (tax proposals) either from the Mayor or the Commissioner. Simultaneously, the BJP members too, opposed the proposals on the ground that they were not consulted at all before preparing them and sought an explanation from the Mayor.
It is noteworthy to mention here that for the first time in history of urban bodies election, a transgender, Madhu Bai Kinnar, was elected in Chhattisgarh as Mayor of any Municipal Corporation for election was held early in January this year. Voters had out-rightly rejected the BJP as well as the Congress candidates and a transgender emerged winner.
Since the meeting did not have the required number of participants (quorum), the Chairman Saleem Niyari postponed it to April 17. It will give ample opportunity to the authorities to consult all the stakeholders and accommodate their views before finalising it (Budget).
No sooner than the meeting began, Congress corporator Shakha Yadav demanded a reply from Municipal Commissioner Pramod Shukla and Mayor Madhu Bai Kinnar for the illegal collection of taxes from the people in the name of construction of building.
Yadav also demanded the reply for delay in benefiting the people under Jal Awardhan Yojana that was already inaugurated by Chief Minister Raman Singh. In the absence of proper reply, Yadav and other Congressmen boycotted the meeting.
Meanwhile, Sugam Chand Farmaniya, a representative of BJP MlA Roshanlal Agarwal and leader in opposition Pankaj Kankarwal also walked out for not taking them into confidence while the Budget was being prepared.
Meanwhile, senior BJP corporator Koushlesh Mishra raised objection against illegal construction of Chawla canteen. Mishra also alleged corruption to the tune of Rs4 crore sanctioned in for the canteen. He even handed over the memorandum signed by as many as 18 ward corporators, to Commissioner Shukla and Chairperson Niyaria. Mishra further demanded for the high level investigation into it. The Corporation Chairman expressed disappointment over the behaviour of the members.