The Congress councillors staged a protest in the monthly meeting of Mangalore City Corporation on Friday.
They said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had discriminated against the Opposition members in allocating funds for the State Finance Commission for development works. They said the grants were not distributed equally among 60 wards. Wards represented by BJP councillors had been given preference in allocating funds, they said.
Two independent councillors joined them and sat in the well of the House and shouted slogans against the BJP. The protesting councillors tore the agenda copies of the meeting. They shouted slogans against Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and against the LPG verification campaign.
They questioned Mayor Praveen how he could give go-ahead for projects with expenditure of Rs. 11.93 core without obtaining the approval of the council.
Mr. Praveen told the Council that preference had been given to complete incomplete works in different wards. He said funds were not allocated on the basis of wards but keeping in mind the need to complete unfinished projects. He appealed to the protesting councillors to maintain the dignity of the House. When the members did not relent, he adjourned the meeting for sometime.
When the house reassembled, the Opposition councillors continued their protest. The Mayor continued with the meeting.
The whip in the council Sudhir Shetty Kannur read out the subjects listed on the agenda and decisions were taken without debate while Opposition councillors continued their protest till the end of the meeting.
