Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Aug 12: Town Bharatiya Janata Party members staged a massive protest here, in front of Clock Tower, near the service bus stand, on Friday August 12 against City Municipality Council for their misadministration and corruption.
Former MLA Raghupati Bhat addressing the protestors said, "Standing committee president Prashant Bhat had illegally permitted an area of land for cow site (mobile tower) without consulting the commissioner and received Rs 5,000 as fee against his signature.
Prashant later apologized at a CMC general body meeting and asked to demolish the tower.
Commenting on the Congress administration he said, "The ruling party held many protests for simple reasons when BJP was in rule. Now the municipality is corruption ridden.
He added, "Udupi CMC is well known at national level and has bagged several awards for development during the BJP regime."
"Corruption is another name for Congress party and party members have indulged in money scams," alleged Raghupati.
Recalling an earlier incident he said, "Congress councillor forcibly collected 10% commission from contractors, while the contractor was in ICU.
Now all CMC councillors (ruling party) have become commission agents. Former MLA also commented on the district in-charge Pramod Madhwaraj saying, "He did not bring any special grant from the state government for Udupi, after he became MLA. SFC fund comes as per the constitution. During V S Acharya’s term, he brought in Rs 163 crore for development.
"The CMC commissioner did not give permission for using a mike at the protest today. Every citizen has the right to fight for justice in a democracy. Thus, they will hold frequent strikes for justice," said Raghupati.
District BJP president Mattar Ratnakar Hegde alleged, "CMC is governed by a third person and the president is there only as an eyewash."
He also added the district in-charge minister has turned a blind eye on these issues. The minister has not come out of the mood of receiving honour from the public. Until corruption ends, protests will continue in the same way.
Mattar demanded, "The minister should break his silence."
A memorandum copy was submitted to the manager on befalf of the commissioner Manjunathaiah and district commissioner T Venkatesh.
Uday Kumar Shetty, Baikady Suprasad Shetty, Kiran Kumar, Prabhakar Poojary, Geetha Shet, Veena Shenoy and others were present.