Uproar in Kozhikode Corporation over BJP member’s remarks about Gandhi

A meeting of the Kozhikode Corporation Council held on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes when one of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members reportedly made disparaging remarks about Mahatma Gandhi.

This also led Mayor Beena Philip to issue a formal warning to C.S. Sathyabhama, the member representing Athanikkal ward. Ms. Sathyabhama allegedly made the remarks during the discussion on an urgent submission moved by Congress member M.C. Sudhamani condemning the terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ms. Sudhamani claimed that the attack was a result of the Union government’s lapses and demanded that strict steps be taken against terrorists. She alleged that even five years after the repealing of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre had not been able to eradicate terrorism from there.

However, BJP member T. Raneesh objected to the references to the Union government in the submission and demanded that they be removed. United Democratic Front (UDF) and Left Democratic Front (LDF) members said that Mr. Raneesh’s demand was not acceptable. This prompted other BJP members to express support for Mr. Raneesh, and arguments and counter-arguments between the two sides ensued. Ms. Sathyabhama reportedly made the disparaging remarks during the melee.

Subsequently, Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed and LDF and UDF members sought action against her. Ms. Philip later issued a warning to Ms. Sathyabhama. Later, the meeting passed the submission moved by Ms. Sudhamani.