Three women corporators’ attempts suicide at BBMP Council meet

Bengaluru: Three women civic corporators on Monday attempted suicide by trying to consume phenol during the monthly meeting of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council.

The women corporators : Asha Suresh, Mamata Vasudev and Manjula Narayanaswamy belong to Congress, BJP and JD(S) parties. “We are fed up with the interference of local MLA Munirathna Naidu. He is not allowing me to take up developmental works in my ward,’’ HMT ward corporator Asha Suresh told reporters on the margins of BBMP Council meeting.

As soon as the BBMP Council meeting began, the three women corporators wanted to raise the harassment issue but Mayor Padmavathi did not allow them. It led to a heated argument between the Mayor and the JD(S) MLC T.A. Saravana.

Disappointed with the Mayor’s refusal, the women corporators, wearing black costumes, rushed to the well of the Council and attempted to consume phenol.

Their attempt was foiled by other corporators who snatched the phenol bottles from them. The corporators were seen pacifying the agitated corporators to resume to their seats. “It has become tough for me to cope with MLA Munirathna Naidu’s harassment. He is encouraging his supporters to attack me. On May 19, his supporters pulled my saree in the presence of Chief Minister,’’ Laggere ward corporator Manjula Narayanaswamy said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was delivering the speech after laying the foundation stone for remodeling of the storm water drain (SWD) at Rakshasahalli in Raja Rajeswari Nagar assembly constituency represented by Munirathna Naidu, a Congress lawmaker, when the alleged assault on woman corporator took place.

“I was shocked when no one came to my rescue when women supporters of Munirathna assaulted me and pulled my saree. I think there is no safety for women corporators in Raja Rajeswari assembly constituency,’’ she said. On May 25, the three women corporators met Adicunchanagiri seer and complained against Congress lawmaker Munirathna.