Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jun 30: District BJP president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde on Thursday, June 29 condemned the incident where a visitor, Rony D’Mello was manhandled by CMC councillors at its general meeting.

Addressing mediapersons at the town BJP office he said, "This is a dark day in the history of Udupi city municipal council. I have never seen such inhuman confrontation in the meeting hall. Congress has come into power at the CMC for the first time in many years. Councilors Ramesh Kanchan, R K Ramesh, Sukhesh and Satish Putran have shown goodna culture against Rony D’Mello who had come to testify on behalf a councillor."

"CMC president could have invited Rony into his cabin and have a peaceful discussion. The issue could have been resolved amicably. But councillors pushed Rony and beat him up badly. Even Kadiyali ward councillor Geetha Shet treated badly. These Congress leaders have displayed their goonda culture," he alleged.

Hegde also alleged that Congress leaders like MLA Abhayachandra Jain, Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Ramanath Rai and Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake subdue anyone who opposes them.

District BJP members demanded the transfer of CMC commissioner Manjunathaiah and the suspension of CMC president Meenakshi Madhava Bannanje. They also demanded that the councillors who were a part of the assault should be debarred from the party at the earliest.

Condemning the unruly behaviour of Congress councillors, district unit of BJP would hold a protest, informed BJP members.

Raghupati Bhat, Naveen Kuthyar, Kuyladi Suresh Nayak, Katpady Shankar Poojary and others present.