Trinamool Congress councillors, in the presence of Mayor Firhad Hakim and KMC Chairperson Mala Roy held a session at the Councillors’ club room in the KMC headquarters on Friday.
It was learnt that 86 out of 136 councillors were present at the KMC today while the rest were absent.
The “House” meeting of the KMC could not be held today as the door of the meeting room was locked, the councillors alleged. As a mark of protest, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim held a “House meeting”, in the councillor’s club inside the KMC building.
At a time when several senior councillors have voiced their discontent against Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee and National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Chairperson of KMC Mala Roy said, “As a chairperson, I had sent directions to open the lock of the room. But the room was not opened.”
Mayor in Council Atin Ghosh alleged that the room was locked on the scheduled day of “House” (a meeting of the Mayor and councillors) and they could not enter. “It was against the Municipal law that the room was locked.”
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim and Mayor-in- council and several councillors held meeting of the “House” inside the club room.BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh said, “Why were opposition were not called in this meeting? The regime has gone and Zamindari still prevails. We will not allow the House to function till we get the reply. Why will the holy club room cannot be conducted into the “House”.”
A councillor Arup Chakraborty said, “Forcefully locking the gates and illegally restraint of monthly House called on May 22 is not merely an attack on an institution — it is an assault on democratic values and the basic civic rights of the people of Kolkata.”
“Kolkata Municipal Corporation represents the voice and aspirations of the citizens. Such authoritarian actions have no place in a democracy. This blatant misuse of power and intimidation of elected representatives is deeply condemnable and reflects a dangerous disregard for constitutional norms and democratic functioning.
BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya said, “Mayor’s job is to give citizen-oriented service to people. People of Kolkata have refused Trinamool. They are not going to stay in KMC. Till then, Do some good work before leaving. The Municipal Commissioner is an administrative officer. Earlier, when the House was cancelled, who gave the order?”
Abhishek on KMC notice
On KMC notice, Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee told media persons, “Those who are questioning me should first ask KMC to specify the so-called illegal portions and then ask me questions. Will respond accordingly.”
