Sena, Opposition clash in TMC

July 18: Ruling Shiv Sena and the opposition Congress corporators came to blows during a debate over the desecration of Dr Ambedkar's bust ...

July 18: Ruling Shiv Sena and the opposition Congress corporators came to blows during a debate over the desecration of Dr Ambedkar’s bust at the Thane Municipal Corporation’s general body meeting on Thursday. In the melee, the mike on Mayor Vijaya Deshmukh’s dais broke.

The members turned violent immediately after convening the meeting at 3 pm, with members trading charges against each other. Deshmukh, in a vain bid to avoid ugly scenes, announced the start of the question hour. She was promptly challenged by leader of the Opposition Subhash Bhoir and Congress corporator B B More, who demanded a thorough discussion on the adjournment motions on the issue of desecration and attack on Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbal before taking up regular business.

The Mayor’s denial of permission resulted in pandemonium. She relented and gave permission for a discussion on the adjournment motions moved by Bhoir, former mayor Manohar Gadve and Shresh Jadhav (Congress). When Deshmukh first took up former mayor Gadve’s motion condemning the desecration and the attack on RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, the Congress members started shouting anti-Sena-BJP slogans. When the mayor refused to read out the motions moved by Bhoir and Jadhav, several Congress members rushed to the well, displayed banners and tore copies of the day’s agenda. Several Sena members then rushed forward, snatched the banners and started bashing up the Congress corporators. Fearing that the situation would worsen civic chief T Chandrashekhar immediately summoned the security personnel who separated the rival groups. Deshmukh adjourned the meeting without transacting further business and walked out, but the Congress corporators continued the meeting under the `mayorship’ of Ashok Raut.

Some Congress corporators urged the commissioner to initiate legal action against the Sena members. When they marched toward the mayor’s cabin they were stopped by Sena corporators at the door. Speaking to reporters later, Chandrashekhar said he would soon send a detailed report on Thursday’s incident to the state government. He will also seek legal advice on taking action against the corporators.