Dy Mayor faces ‘assault’ during proceedings in SMC
Corporators rue the tussle between Mayor, Deputy Mayor
Srinagar: The tussle between the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) reached a crescendo when Deputy Mayor of the SMC was assaulted during an ongoing session on Monday.
The open tussle between the two top bosses has left the works in the corporation hanging in air with councilors claiming that no developmental works are taking place within the corporation.
Several incidents have so far taken place which exhibited the rivalry between the duo including Mayor Junaid Azim Matoo and Deputy Mayor Shiekh Imran.
Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s deputy mayor was injured Monday after he was allegedly assaulted by corporators inside the corporation’s building here, officials said.
Sheikh Imran was attacked after an argument broke out between him and a group of corporators over the functioning of the civic body this morning, an aide of Imran said.
“The deputy mayor was assaulted by the corporators. He was injured and had to be rushed to a hospital,” he said.
An official at the Shaheed Gunj police station said they have taken cognizance of the incident and an investigation is underway.
Imran, who won the civic body polls as an independent candidate, was elected as the deputy mayor with the backing of the Congress.
Interestingly, the situation reached a spot where one among them was grievously wounded in an assault on Monday following which the Deputy Mayor Sheikh Imran received a stitch on his forehead as well.
The intentions behind electing corporators was to ensure better facilities to the City dweller but that all proved a ‘cruel joke’ so far as the duo has entered into the arguments several times on little issues, thus leaving the people of Srinagar to suffer.
The corporatos also believe that the development of Srinagar has taken a big hit due to the tussle between the duo. “Both are trying to show themselves as superior, which in the end is leaving people of Srinagar to suffer,” a corporator wishing anonymity said.
Another corporator told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that several meetings to discuss the developmental issues were either cancelled or came to a standstill due to the callous attitude of both Mayor and the Deputy Mayor.
However, they said that with this tussle, the people of Srinagar who want to see development in their area are being neglected. “We feel ashamed of such developments. We want to serve the people but are getting no space to ensure the grievances of people are redressed,” they added.
Meanwhile, Dy Mayor while talking about the developments said that he is being targeted as he has resolved to bulldoze Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Those corporators who don’t work and are BJP and RSS backed are assaulting me but I will never succumb to the pressure,” he said.
He added that he wants to see Srinagar very well developed but at the same time, those who are not working and are targeting and assaulting him must be punished.
Interestingly, the corporation has seen several controversies in the short span of two months with a female corporator levelling allegations of sexual harassment against BJP-backed Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu last month. (with PTI inputs)
Owais Gul
