Even Congress Councillors not accompanied their Chief Whip in walkout: Mayor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 27: The General House Meeting (GHM) of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today witnessed heated arguments of BJP Councillors with the Mayor while the opposition Councillors staged a walkout in protest for not accommodating their resolutions and questions during proceedings of the House. However, certain resolutions were passed and some questions were also taken during business of the House.
The GHM was chaired by Mayor, Rajinder Sharma; co-chaired by Deputy Mayor, Baldev Singh Billawaria—both from BJP and presided over by JMC Commissioner, Rahul Yadav and entry of media was not allowed to cover the proceedings of the House.
As proceedings of the House started at 12 noon and the Mayor directed for discussion on Building Bylaws, BJP Councillor Sanjay Baru stood and asserted that questions, resolutions and demands concerning issues of public importance should be taken first and for discussion on Building Bylaws there should be a separate session.
Many others Councillors including those from opposition also supported him but prompt in this regard was Chander Mohan Gupta, BJP Councilor and former Mayor who said that power and water supply issues are of immediate concern than Building Bylaws.
Over this the Mayor Rajinder Sharma went for voice vote among the Councillors and majority supported Chander Mohan and the Mayor went with the majority after which the House started question hour which was followed by resolutions.
“I had a question on norms adopted to allot of Safai Sathis in all the 75 Wards of JMC as for Wards with requirement of 35-40 Safai Sathis, allotted strength remains 85 and where 80 are needed only 35-40 are given,” Councillor Sanjay Baru said claiming that other Councillors also supported him.
“Earlier JMC Commissioner had assured to rationalise number of Safai Sathis but nothing has been done in this regard so far while pick and choose policy is being largely involved in allotting Safai Sathis,” Baru continued.
It is pertinent to mention here that on June 24, the 20th GHM was marred by the pandemonium created by the protesting opposition Councillors who were resenting disallowing of their resolutions in proceedings of the House. Ultimately the house was adjourned for lack of quorum.
When contacted, Congress Chief Whip in the House, Dwarka Chowdhary said today he appealed again that the dropped resolutions of the opposition should be accommodated but the Mayor paid no heed over which Congress Councillors along with Independents staged a walkout at about 5 pm.
Sobat Ali, Councillor of recently formed Democratic Progressive Azad Party informed that though he had no resolution or question in today’s business of the House but as the questions and resolutions of many of the opposition Councillors were deleted he walked-out in their support as they were talking for water and power problems in the city.
Baldev Singh Billawaria, Deputy Mayor said that Building Bylaws were not taken today.
He said that his resolution regarding privileges to winners of Padma and Gallantry awards from JMC was passed.
“I demanded that roads, parks etc should be named after these people and these people should also be invited as special guests in important functions so that they may become role models for others.” he maintained.
Independent Councillor Prof. Yudhvir Singh said even his question was rejected, what to say of resolution.
“Over my question the Mayor remained mum so I left the House in protest,”
When contacted the Mayor, Rajinder Sharma informed that the House was to carryon previous proceedings to discuss and pass Building Bylaws which will end ‘Inspector Raaj’ and will double asset value of lands with building permissions apart from many more benefits to the people of Jammu.
“But former Mayor, Chander Mohan Gupta contested that issue of lanes and drains should be discussed first. Despite my insisting he refused to budge and I went for voice vote from other Councillors and when the majority said that discussion on Building Bylaws should be postponed and questions should be taken today I followed the principle of democracy I supported the view of majority,” the Mayor said adding that Building Bylaws will now be discussed on July 10, 2023.
He informed that the House was again adjourned today for lack of quorum also as only 23-24 Councillors were left by 6.45 pm.
“Even former Mayor Gupta had left along with those who repeatedly demanded conducting of GHM,” Rajinder Sharma said adding that the resolutions are okayed for business of the House by a 10 member Procedure and Conduct of Business Committee of which Dwarka Chowdhary is also a member.
“Questions and resolutions okayed by this Committee are taken for business of the House and resolution of Dwarka Chowdhary was not okayed by it,” he further said adding: “When Dwarka Chowdhary walked out in protest for not accommodating his resolution none of the Congress members accompanied him but after an hour he called them on phone and they left the House one-by-one.”
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