Ban on mobiles in BBMP meetings?

BANGALORE: The sex video controversy which rocked the Legislative Assembly and subsequently led to the resignation three ministers has had a rippling effect in the entire BJP administration in the State. As a result, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has now decided to ban the use of allphones within the Council during the monthly meetings.“Our ministers have been caught in controversy. They tarnished the party’s image. I condemn this act. Now we have decided to ban mobile phones in the BBMP meetings. If the members want to talk on mobiles, they can go out and do so,” said B R Nanjaundappa, ruling party leader in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike  Council. Supporting him, Deputy Mayor S Harish said their party wants to keep a clean image in the BBMP. “We would consider banning  mobile phone use in the council and a discussion is likely to come up in the coming council meeting. We will take the Opposition into confidence before bringing such a rule. We are seriously thinking of banning the use of cell phones,” he said.The Opposition supported the proposed move but said this has come a little late. “The media earlier caught corporator Katta Jagadish while playing games. The double standards of BJP have been exposed. They murdered the democracy when the porngate scandal rocked the Assembly and it is high time that even the city corporation takes some cue out of this and brings in some measures to use of phone during the council meets. Otherwise, this will be an embarrassment to the whole BBMP council. The proposed move is too little and too late,” Hoodi corporator Byrathi Basavraj maintained.In the meantime, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike  Commissioner M K Shankaralinge Gowda said it is a good move to think ban on the use of phone during important discussions during council meet. “Based on the consensus  and with a two third majority, a resolution can be passed to bring in a new rule,” he noted.