Mumbai gets on with life, but BMC stuck with e-meetings

BMC headquarters at Fort. The standing committee did not allow offline meetings in view of the recent order by the state government. File pic

Almost all the businesses in the city have reopened - students have started going to schools and colleges, local trains are again witnessing crowding - but the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is still stuck with online meetings despite strong objections raised by the BJP and Congress. Though the BJP demanded a physical meeting of the civic standing committee on Wednesday, the chairman of the committee clarified that the state government has asked to carry out meetings only in the online mode.

On Wednesday, BJP members had given a letter to the chairman of the standing committee seeking to hold the committee meeting in-person, but they were not allowed in view of the recent order from the government. "We went to the high court. Last week, the high court clearly said that those members who wished to attend the meeting physically should be allowed to do so. The court also directed the government to take the decision regarding offline meetings within five days, but the state hasn't taken any decision till now."

"We respect the directions of the high court, but we received the letter from the state government today (Wednesday) which states that we should follow guidelines dated June 28 until further decision. It means we have to take online meetings till further guidelines. The BJP is making it a political agenda," said Yashwant Jadhav, chairman of the standing committee and Shiv Sena corporator.

"Despite very clear directions from the high court we were not allowed to attend the meeting in person on Wednesday. It is contempt of court. We will go to the court against the state government, under secretary and the chairman of the standing committee," said Bhalchandra Shirsat, BJP corporator.

Ravi Raja, leader of the opposition, said, "We have been demanding offline meetings as there are many technical glitches and members cannot express their views clearly in online meetings. The corporation, however, is pointing towards the state government," said. He added, "Schools, colleges have reopened already, the state government allowed religious places, local trains, cinema halls to open. Then why are meetings of various committees not happening in person?"

28 June
Date of government guideline that is to be followed