Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Jun 30: Corporator Azeez Kudroli who was recently arrested by the Pandeshwar police for reportedly threatening MCC officials over Kandak ice plant issue, on Monday June 30 carried out a protest in the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) meeting hall.
It may be recalled that Azeez was arrested on June 21 on a complaint filed by MCC commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde, in connection to a protest over the proposed ice plant at Kandak. The MCC officials had alleged that he had threatened them and had accused him of instigating Kandak residents to protest. Azeez was released by the police two days later.
On Monday, Azeez protested during the MCC general meeting held in the Mangala auditorium of Mangalore City Corporation, presided over by mayor Mahabala Maarla, in the presence of deputy mayor Kavitha and MCC commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde.
Azeez Kudroli carried out the protest by gagging himself with black scarf and sitting on dharna. As the meeting started, the mayor asked Azeez why he was protesting, to which Azeez briefly removed the scarf and narrated the recent incident. He claimed that he had been arrested on fake charges filed by the MCC officials.
A tense situation prevailed and arguments arose, as a few corporators supported Azeez, while some others supported the MCC officials for doing their duty. Both MCC commissioner and the mayor narrated their side of the story, with the mayor saying that he was out in a meeting at the time of the incident and did not come to know of it until later. He urged the officials to work with unity and not harbour personal grudges over any issue.
Finally Azeez withdrew the protest, after the mayor promised to taken action against the officials who issued show cause notice to him. He also assured that he would ask them to withdraw the cases filed against Azeez.
Various other issues were discussed in the meeting as well. M P Nalin Kumar Kateel, presidents of various committees, corporators and officials were present on the occasion.