Kozhikode Municipal Corporation witnessed dramatic incidents on Saturday when the Council meeting was disrupted due to a protest by the Opposition over the issue concerning the Community Organisers’ (CO) hunger strike.
The problem began right at the beginning of the council meeting when the Mayor A.K. Premajam denied permission for an adjournment motion by Opposition leader M.T. Padma demanding the council to increase the honorarium of the COs as well as make them permanent employees of the Corporation. The permission was denied on grounds that the issue was already included in the supplementary agenda. However, the Opposition protested by getting on to the Mayor’s podium. One of the councillors wrenched the agenda out of the Mayor’s hands and things suddenly got out of control. There were minor scuffles between the councillors on the floor. The Mayor immediately declared that all the items in the agenda were passed and retired to her chamber. The Opposition followed her shouting slogans and sat down before the two doors leading to her office blocking her from the media. They were later arrested and removed from the spot.
Meanwhile, the community organisers going on hunger strike in front of the Corporation office, under the aegis of the Asanghatitha Meghala Thozhilali Union, declared a hunger strike unto death if the council did not come to a decision on their demands. They, as a large group blocked the Mayor’s vehicle as she came out of the office.
