Mangalore: The MCC Council Meet held on Saturday(March 31) after the budget presentation on Friday, produced fireworks, as arguments were mounted by BJP against Congress corporators on a hijacked budget.

Former Mayor Shanker Bhat led the attack on new Mayor Gulzaar Banu Shaikh, Questioning her right to present the budget prepared by BJP, and making changes therein as in Kuteera Bhagya scheme. As the case was in High Court against Mayoral elections, Banu could not conduct Council proceedings as Mayor, he pointed out, and added that court will give it verdict only on April 3.

Shashidhar Hegde, a former Congress mayor, defending Banu said that even after BJP walked out of House, there was a required one-third majority presence in the house, so the session was continued. He told Bhat that Shantha R. of BJP was asked by the Congress Mayor to present the budget, but Shantha refused to do so.

Shantha raised objections for passing the Budget without referring it to the standing Committee., and demanded an explanation, from the MCC Commissioner. Congress corporator DK Ashok Kumar also asked the same question.

Dr H. Kumar quoting law books stated that no specific person is indicated to bear this responsibility of presenting the budget. He added that financial year had come to an end and it was mandatory added that financial year had come to an end and it was mandatory to send the budget to state Government for approval. On Thumbe Water level’s he said that as there were no rains recently, in catchments areas, river inflow had reduced due to evaporation in heat. Several areas were having less water supply, as in Mulky and Ullal.