MUMBAI, OCT 6: Mayor Vishakha Raut's ``impolite language'' today led to the entire opposition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staging a walkout. The members led by the main opposition party Congress were also angry over her refusal to allow them to speak during the debate on the bus fare hike on Saturday.The Opposition today sported black badges and shouted slogans against the mayor. The sloganeering continued even after the House assembled. Speaking to newspersons later in the day, Congress leader Kishan Jadhav said the mayor should address the members with respect. ``If the mayor does not maintain decorum in the House, how can she expect us to behave in a disciplined manner?'' Jadhav asked. He said his party members had been dropping subtle hints in the house about the mayor's uncharitable behaviour for a long time now.``If this continuous, we may have to pass a no-confidence motion against her,'' he threatened.Ravindra Pawar of the Congress threatened that his party would not co-operate with the ruling party if its members were not given the respect due to them in the house. ``This would prove costly to the ruling party,'' he said. He alleged that members of his party were not allowed to speak on the bus fare hike and the proposals were passed with just two-third majority, while the required majority needed is three-fourth.Former mayor R T Kadam said that while the mayor was entitled to the right of deciding the time for which a corporator should be allowed to speak, she could not prevent a member from expressing his/her views in the House.Raut, however refused to be drawn into any controversy. All she would say was that she had always respected all the members. ``I want to run the house in a jovial and cordial manner.If I am strict they will complain,'' she added. She alleged that objections about her behaviour were being raised as the opposition members had no valid points on which they could oppose the bus fare hike.About the charge that she had not allowed Congress members to participate in the debate over fare hike, she said four members of the party had spoken on the issue on Saturday.
