Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Corporation’s (MCC) move to clear banners, buntings and flexes across the city is being met with stiff resistance from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is crying foul. Soon after MCC began eviction of all advertisement materials put up by political parties following deputy commissioner’s order, BJP activists objected to bringing down Jana Suraksha Yatra banners, terming the MCC action as politically motivated.
Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil issued a notice to the MCC commissioner seeking explanation for not adhering to his earlier directive, failing which he warned of action.
BJP activists opposed the MCC move following DC’s order of clearing banners near Balmatta. BJP District Unit Spokesperson Monappa Bhandari alleged that this was a conspiracy to prevent the success of Jana Suraksha Yatra.
He alleged that Congress had employed banners extensively in the recent past during party conventions but the district administration remained silent then. He accused of political conspiracy behind DC’s order issued at the “behest of district in-charge minister.”
“There was a tabloid depicting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s government supporting cattle smuggling as part of the yatra from Madikeri on March 3. When it entered Sullia, the authorities seized it”, he said hinting at district administration’s plans to scuttle BJP’s Yatra.
“The people of the district are getting the ‘reality picture’ on the state of affairs, which has instilled fear in the mind of District In-charge Minister Rai. In an effort to prevent the opposition from gaining popularity, the minister is trying to scuttle BJP’s plans by instructing officials,” he charged.
DC Senthil, during a meeting on February 9, had ordered the removal of all unauthorised banners. In his latest notice to MCC commissioner, DC Senthil cited the difficulties faced by pedestrians, motorists alike and indicated the mess they create in public places by defacing main areas of the beautiful city.