Turmoil at Bikaner Municipal Corporations First Meeting: National Anthem Controversy Sparks Heated Debate

Bikaner, October 17: The inaugural meeting of the new board at the Bikaner Municipal Corporation was marred by chaos. The session, held in the municipal hall, began with a dispute over the national anthem and quickly escalated into a confrontation between Congress and BJP councilors over issues related to cleanliness, sewage, street lighting, and sanitation workers.

Mayor Anil Kalla and Deputy Mayor Pankaj Gehlot had to intervene multiple times to calm the councilors. Amid the uproar, the Mayor instructed officials that the city must appear clean before Diwali.

Key highlights from the meeting include:

Allegations from BJP councilors that the national anthem was not sung in full, leading to protests.
Intense debates over cleanliness, sewage, street lighting, and sanitation worker issues.
BJP councilor Ummed Singh Rajpurohit accused the Mayor of using threatening language.
The Mayor’s directive: If it requires a trip to Jaipur for budget approval, it must be done to ensure the city is clean before Diwali.
Not all 42 Congress councilors attended a pre-meeting session.

National Anthem Dispute Ignites Tensions

The assembly commenced at noon with the national anthem, but BJP councilors quickly accused their counterparts of not singing it in full, sparking a heated debate. The atmosphere became tense right from the start. Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor urged councilors to engage in a calm discussion and cooperate during the proceedings.

Mayor Under Fire Over Cleanliness and Sewage Issues

During the meeting, BJP councilors criticized the municipal administration for its handling of the city’s cleanliness and waste management. They claimed that insufficient action was taken to address issues related to sanitation, street lighting, and sewage.

Councilors demanded improvements in cleanliness in their respective areas, repairs to malfunctioning street lights, and solutions to sewage problems. As several councilors began speaking simultaneously from their seats, the Mayor advised them to speak one at a time.

The cleanliness issue has previously caused uproar in the corporation. On October 6, a BJP councilor created a scene by banging his head on the ground in front of the commissioner over the same issue.

Rajpurohit Accuses Mayor of Using Threatening Language

During the meeting, BJP councilor Ummed Singh Rajpurohit raised objections to the Mayor’s choice of words. He accused Mayor Anil Kalla of using threatening language and targeting officials. Rajpurohit emphasized the importance of collaborating with officials for the city’s development and the corporation’s operations.

A debate ensued, but the situation eventually calmed. Other BJP councilors, including Shyam Singh Hadla and Surendra Singh Shekhawat, presented various proposals during the session.

“If It Requires a Trip to Jaipur, So Be It, But the City Must Be Clean”

Amid the chaos, Mayor Anil Kalla prioritized cleanliness and directed officials accordingly. He insisted that the city’s cleanliness should improve significantly for Diwali and stated that if additional budget was required, they should request funds from the state government.

“If it requires a trip to Jaipur for the budget, then let it be, but the city must look completely clean before Diwali,” said Anil Kalla, Mayor of Bikaner. He emphasized the timely completion of cleanliness, waste management, and festival-related arrangements.

Pre-Meeting Congress Councilors’ Session Lacks Attendance

Before the general assembly, the Mayor held a meeting with Congress councilors to discuss the session’s agenda and city development issues. He stressed that all should work together in line with the trust the public has placed in the Congress board. The meeting addressed cleanliness, sewage, street lighting, fire safety, and other public amenities in light of Diwali. Former MLA Dr. B.D. Kalla from Bikaner West was also present.

However, not all 42 Congress councilors attended this meeting. Reports indicate that all councilors were informed, yet some members were absent. Concerns were raised about the absence of councilors from such an important meeting, and the Mayor took this matter seriously. The reasons for the absence of certain councilors remain unclear.

Mayor from Congress, Deputy Mayor from BJP

This time, the Bikaner Municipal Corporation has a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from different parties. Anil Kalla from Congress defeated the BJP candidate 50-30 in the mayoral election, while BJP’s Pankaj Gehlot narrowly won against Congress’s Naseem Bano by two votes in the deputy mayoral election. This division may influence the proceedings in the days to come.

Author Profile

Kuldeep Singh Chundawat: My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.