Tension prevailed at the council meeting of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) on Monday with Congress corporators staging a demonstration. The Congress corporators alleged that Cuttack-Barabati MLA Mohammad Moquim is not being invited nor his name mentioned in foundation stone plaques of several welfare projects. This is being done intentionally as part of a larger political conspiracy, alleged the corporators.
Congress corporator, Santosh Bhola said, “The MLA is being invited at the last minute and no proper procedure is being followed to invite him.”
Another corporator said that recently foundation stone plaques of four developmental programmes were laid. Despite the projects being under Cuttack-Barabati constituency, the MLA was not invited.
“MLA has not been invited and his name has not been mentioned in three out of four plaques as part of a political conspiracy. It is the responsibility of the CMC to invite and add the name of local MLA in the foundation stone plaques,” said another Congress corporator.
BJP corporators also alleged that it is unfortunate the way the local MLA is being side-lined.
Responding to the allegations, Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh said, “I had urged all corporators to discuss various issues at the council meeting ahead of the monsoon season. But the attempt to stall the proceedings is not justified.”
Singh further said that, “Already we assured the corporators to rectify the mistakes. I had personally called the MLA and invited him and an invitation letter was also sent. I urge the corporators to cooperate in the functioning of the council in the larger interest of the public.”
(Reported by Prabhat Bisoi)