Mangalore: City Fathers Bid Adieu with Bonhomie and Pleasantries

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MB)
Report coordinated by Richie Lasrado

Pics Dayanand Kukkaje and Rajesh Shetty

Mangalore, Jun 16: The five-year term of the members of the Mangalore City Corporation ended on Saturday, June 16.

The parting session was marked by the usual bickerings and cacophony but not to the extent like whenever our City Fathers (and Mothers !) gathered for regular sessions earlier. The joke that has been making rounds in the media community all along was that if at all they were found shouting at each other and creating rhetoric and theatricals, it was only for the sake of TV and still cameras, but at heart they were all one, for all 'practical' purposes.

Despite some heated exchanges, in the end, they all forgave and forgot the past and shook hands with each other, only perhaps swearing to come back gesturing at each other in the ensuing election campaign. At least on the last day of their tenure, before parting, they exchanged pleasantries and showed great camaraderie. If only the same spirit and unity was shown during the last five years, the face of Mangalore would have wholly changed for the better, felt many colleagues in the media.

The ever-vociferous BJP corporator Mariamma Thomas wanted to know about the media reports that the final session was to pass 500-plus resolutions in one go. The mayor is first said to have denied but finally admitted, saying that in any case the commissioner would have the powers to countermand any resolution.

Congressman-turned-BJP-neophyte James D'Souza was prominently seen in the opposition benches after many years in the ruling sector.

Some of the decisions taken in a hurry included the promotion of a junior engineer to the rank of a assistant engineer.  To deal with tax matters, it was also resolved to engage the service of a chartered accountant as a consultant.

Corporators Devanand Pai, former mayors Hilda Alva, Diwakar, deputy mayor Saleem, commissioner Krishnappa, mayor Vijaya Arun and others spoke and thanked everyone, including the citizens.

The session also marked by protests from some Hindu organizations shouting slogans and holding placards, saying 'Save Nandigudda Crematorium', 'Down with anti-Hindu MCC' etc. from the visitors' gallery. They were protesting against MCC's plan to grant a part of the Nandigudda crematorium for the use of Jehovah's Witnesses of Yekkur. They had earlier submitted a memorandum to the DC opposing such a move.  (What was prominently noticed by everyone was that one of the flags had the 'Om' sign held upside down.)

The day also saw throwing open the concreted stretch of Dr Ambedkar Circle (formerly Jyoti Circle)-Hampankatta signal circle road to the public and traffic. While mayor Vijaya Arun inaugurated the new road, the function was attended by district minister-in-charge B Nagaraj Shetty, MLA Yogish Bhat, former mayor Ashraf who had set the project rolling, corporators and others. 

But 'Kabhi Avida Na Kehna" - the elections are coming soon.