On day 2, JMC turns into free-for-all arena

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Municipal Corporation's general body meeting (GBM) witnessed rowdy scenes on Tuesday as Congress councillor Suman Gurjar hurled her slipper at mayor Nirmal Nahata.
The incident happened when Congress councillors were protesting against the mayor and BJP councillors after garbage committee chairman Man Pandit allegedly made a foul statement.
The GBM, which was adjourned on Monday, was re-convened on Tuesday at 11 am.Defending the mayor, BJP councillors claimed that current BJP board has carried out development works worth Rs 200 crore in the city. Following this, heated arguments were exchanged between the councilors of both the parties.
The scuffle took place after BJP councillor Man Pandit made a statement that forefathers of Congress councillors were responsible for the poor financial condition of the JMC. Reacting to this statement, furious Congress councillors left their seats, rushed to the well and Gujar threw her slipper at the mayor's dais.
Another Congress councillor Mahon Meena also tried to throw his shoe at the mayor; however, he was stopped by the marshals present in the hall. Following this, the house was adjourned by the mayor for 10 minutes.
The house was re-convened after both the councillors expressed their apologies. Four agendas were approved in the meeting which lasted for nearly 10 hours on Tuesday. As per the agenda, 91 ward councillors mentioned their problems ward-wise in front of the mayor.
Many alleged that the 28-day sanitation campaign which started after the announcement by chief minister Vasundhara Raje fell flat as resources were not provided to the councillors.
"Despite several requests, the administration has failed to provide machinery for the sanitation campaign. In such a situation, how can a councillor contribute to make the city clean," asked Dharam Singhania, a councillor.
Majority of the councillors also complained about the faulty street lights in the city. Councillors accused the light committee chairman Chandra Bhatia of making payment to the contractors without getting the lights repaired.
Meanwhile, the BJP councillors who were protesting against their own party's mayor on Monday kept mum on Tuesday. Sources in the BJP claimed that the two councillors were summoned at BJP headquarter after they openly protested against the mayor in the GBM. It was hinted that the party would also take disciplinary action against guilty councillors.