Oppn stages walkout from NDMC panel meet

The Opposition in the BJP-ruled NDMC today staged a walkout from its standing committee meet here, alleging carrying out the session of civic body amounted to "disrespect" to the late wife of the President of India.
President Pranab Mukherjee's wife Suvra Mukherjee died here yesterday at the age of 74.
Friends and family, besides top dignitaries today bid farewell to her, whose mortal remains were consigned to flames here.
"The First Lady of the country has died and I propose that after observing a two-minute silence, the meeting of the committee be adjourned... The 47th session of the All India Council of Mayors (AICM) was held prior to this, and there also no one thought of paying any respect to her," Leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel said.

Goel and other Congress members, immediately left the meeting venue at the Civic Centre here, without waiting for any word from the committee's chairman.
"She died yesterday and we already have paid our respect. I don't think a senior leader like Mukeshji should politicise a matter like this...Besides, tax-payers' money is spent on organising meets like these, should we just waste them," NDMC's Standing Committee Chairman, Mohan Bhardwaj said.

"A man like APJ Abdul Kalam, who even wrote in his book that on his death, people should work more, in service of the nation, we take inspiration from him, and that's why we will continue with the session. However, it will be be brief," he added.

Later addressing reporters, Bhardwaj said, the cash-strapped NDMC is planning to exploit other unutilised resources, like unused lands and old properties.
"We have identified 11 such properties, and in last standing committee, we have even approved the plan. Some of the areas include, Model Town flats, Azadpur, Minto Road quarters, Novelty Cinema, vacant plot at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, etc," he said.