THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ripples created by the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare resonated way down here in the Corporation Council on Tuesday as a bugged UDF was still more silenced jointly by the BJP and the LDF on the issue. Hitting back at the embarrassment, the UDF leaders took revenge by creating a pandemonium over the Local Fund Audit report 2009-10 currently being discussed by the Corporation. It was BJP’s councillor P Asok Kumar who introduced the resolution to condemn the arrest of Hazare, terming it as an undemocratic act on the part of the Union Government. However, UDF leader Maheswaran Nair stood up immediately and quoted from the Municipality Act, saying the Council was supposed to speak about administrative and public matters related to the Corporation and the city. And not about something that happened miles away. It reflected the embarrassing position the UDF was finding itself in. The LDF and the BJP, including the Mayor, argued that the councillors could talk about any social issue and corruption in the Council. Though Maheswaran Nair took refuge in the Act, Mayor K Chandrika read out from the pages of the Municipality Act which elaborate on what all a councillor could speak about in the Council. After a brief din, peace prevailed for some minutes. Later, the din resumed when the Mayor refused speaking time to one of the UDF councillors. ‘’When ‘point of order’ is called by a councillor, he should be heard. But by disapproving the chance of the UDF councillor to speak, the Mayor has made a constitutional error,’’ UDF leader Mujeeb Rehman said. However, the Mayor said that the UDF was calling for ‘point of order’ unnecessarily and not as laid down in the rules. It cannot be allowed, Chandrika said. The UDF councillors took the floor, shouted slogans, made a brief walkout, some came in, some remained outside and finally they steered the talks to another pandemonium. This time it was over the Local Fund Audit report 2009-10 which is being discussed by the Finance Committee presently. The UDF wanted the audit report to be circulated among the councillors and a special council be called to discuss it. ‘’You talked so proud of Hazare. Then, why do you avoid the Local Fund Audit discussion which brings to light the corruption of the former LDF council?’’ Maheswaran Nair asked. Amidst the din that followed, Deputy Mayor G Happykumar explained to the Council that the Finance Committee has asked the officials concerned about the audit objections in the report. However, there has been delay in the officials filing an answer due to various reasons. He said the UDF members were also part of the Finance Committee and it is ridiculous to see them creating noise in the Council.
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