High drama prevailed at the monthly meeting of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation council here on Monday as the Opposition Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) objected to the ruling party’s demand for putting off the issue of permitting construction of a church at Rayanala village near Hubballi.
While Congress and JD(S) leaders urged the BJP members not to play politics over the issue of giving permission to construct religious structures, BJP members, mainly former floor leader Sudhir Saraf, sought a public hearing, saying several residents had objected to the construction.
Earlier in the day, some residents of the locality, backed by a few Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activists, submitted a memorandum to the Mayor on the issue.
The impasse resulted in three adjournments before the final one for the day. At one point, members, led by Opposition leader Sudha Manikuntla, backed by JD(S), rushed to the well of the House seeking approval for the subject. They staged a dharna after Mayor Ashwini Majjagi ruled that the decision had been put off.
The enraged Opposition members raised slogans and did not allow the Mayor to return to her chair. As the marshals stood as mute spectators, the former Mayors Viranna Savadi, and Shivu Hiremath, rushed to clear the way for her. Returning to her chair, the Mayor only announced that all the subjects on the agenda, including the one on permission for another religious structure, had been kept pending and adjourned the meeting for the day. It was Mr. Sudhir Saraf who first objected to the passing the subject. The subject on the agenda mentioned that the Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority had permitted construction of the church on a civic amenity site at Rayanal village after following the procedures. The municipal commissioner had placed the issue before the council.
Mr. Sudhir Saraf referred to the memorandum and pointed out that the residents were opposed to the move, and local councillor Ramanna Badiger had received several appeals.
BJP opposes building of church at Rayanal; Congress, JD(S) condemn ruling party’s stand
