Mumbai:
Women corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) came to blows during the general body proceedings at the BMC headquaretrs in south Mumbai. The incident took place during a special session to dicuss building collapses in the city which have killed over 15 people this monsoon.
Before the building collapses, the mayor had allowed other proposals to be placed. During today's proceedings, he passed the proposal to convert the Mahalaxmi Racecourse into a theme park without a debate.
When the Mayor refused to give in to the Opposition's demand for a debate, Congress Corporator Sheetal Mhatre got on to the podium and threw bangles at the Mayor. Following this, women Shiv Sena corporators attacked Mhatre who was allegedly slapped and beaten.
"Some 10-15 Shiv Sainik goons came and started hitting me and they threw my spectacles too," Sheetal Mhatre told NDTV.
"Making a mockery out of things in such a way is a shame for our democracy and that is what I am condemning," Mayor Sunil Prabhu said. Ms Mhatre and the Shiv Sena corporators have filed non-cognizable complaints against each other.
Over the last few days the Opposition and the Shiv Sena have been locked in a battle over the future of the race course. The 99-year lease of Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), which maintains the Mahalaxmi race course, expired on May 31, prompting the Shiv Sena to demand a theme park at the sprawling grounds.
Set up in 1883, the Mahalaxmi race course occupies 8.5 lakh square metres of open space - a vital green lung in the heart of the island city. The Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI controlled BMC owns 2.5 lakh square metres of the race course land, while the state owns the rest.