Councillor ‘tries to attack’ Mayor

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service  

Chandigarh, February 10 

Infighting in the city unit of the BJP turned murkier  after a woman councillor of the party, Farmila, reportedly tried to assault Mayor Rajesh Kalia with a mike  at a  public  function at Shahpur Colony near Dadu Majra today. 

Farmila denied the allegation and said she just snatched  the mike  from the Mayor  as he was using “insulting language” in his speech.

The Mayor alleged  that she  not only  tried  to hit  him, but also used  derogatory  language for  him. The Mayor  and Farmila later lodged  complaints against  each other with city BJP president Sanjay Tandon and  party incharge Dinesh  Kumar.   

The incident  occurred  10 minutes after Tandon left the venue after addressing a gathering. Local  BJP leaders had organised a function in the colony and had invited Tandon, Mayor Rajesh  Kalia  and local councillor Farmila   to raise their issues before them. The ruckus started soon after Tandon left the venue.

When  Kalia started his speech, Farmila stood up and  started moving  out  of the  venue. Seeing her going out,  the Mayor requested her to stay and raise the  issues, which reportedly angered  her.  Both of them engaged in a verbal duel in front  of the public,  which  was recorded  by some  leaders.

In the video, that was circulated   on the  social media,  Farmila  was   seen  snatching the mike from the Mayor  and trying to hit  him. However, some leaders prevented her from doing so.

Farmila said how could a woman tolerate  her  insult in front of the  public.  She said when  the Mayor  was  using insulting words   for her, she snatched  the  mike to express her point of view. Tussles between Farmila  and Kalia  are not  new.  Farmila  was also in the  race for the post of Mayor,  but the party chose  to field Kaila. Farmila  had supported another party councillor Satish Kainth, who contested against Kalia.  While Kainth  refused  to budge,   Farmila   later  supported  Kalia under  party  pressure.

Both submit complaints against each other

Councillor Farmila denied the allegation that she attempted to hit the Mayor and said she just snatched the mike from the Mayor as he was using “insulting language” in his speech. The Mayor alleged that she not only tried to hit him, but also used derogatory language for him. The Mayor and Farmila later lodged complaints against each other with city BJP president Sanjay Tandon and party incharge Dinesh Kumar.