Hyderabad, January 07: Mohd Majid Hussain’s first day as mayor began on a controversial note on Friday. He made officials wait for him during inspection of ongoing works at Hafeezbaba Nagar in the Old City and also got into a verbal duel with Majlis Bachao Teherek (MBT) corporator at Dabeerpura.
GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu had a harrowing experience under the new dispensation when he was caught between rivals – MIM and MBT. It’s his wont to visit various areas to inspect works along with the officials concerned every day.
As usual he decided to inspect Murikinala and ongoing Dabeerpura rail over bridge (ROB) works in the Old City on Friday. His programme was fixed on Thursday afternoon and it was communicated to the zonal commissioner of South Zone and officials concerned. It is also the practice in the GHMC to inform local representatives i.e., corporators as they could bring problems of the locals to the notice of the commissioner. However, mayor Majid Hussain decided to take part in the commissioner’s visit and conveyed the same to GHMC officials at about 7.30 am.
By the time, the information reached the commissioner all the officials assembled at Omar Cafe at Hafeezbaba Nagar. Krishna Babu also reached the spot by 8 am and waited for nearly half-an-hour for the mayor. Later, the mayor along with the commissioner visited areas where the Muriki Nala works were going on.
Sources said as the officials reached Dabeerpura, some MIM corporators told the commissioner not to inspect the Dabeerpura bridge (as it is in their rival MBT corproator’s jurisdiction) and wind up his visit.
Mayor Majid Hussain and Azampura corporator (MBT) Amjadullah Khan had an altercation over the inspection.
While the Azampura corporator insisted that the commissioner inspect the Dabeerpura ROB work as per the schedule, the mayor and other MIM corporators asked the commissioner to examine it some other time. There was a heated argument between the MIM corporators and Amjadullah Khan. Finally, Krishna Babu inspected the bridge and directed officials to speed up restoration works of the Dabeerpura bridge.
Soon after taking charge, the mayor landed himself in a spot by removing photographs of the President, Prime Minister and chief minister in his chambers. Instead, he hung the photographs of Sultan Salauddin Owaisi, the founder of All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and party floor leader in the Assembly, Akbaruddin Owaisi.
Sources in the General Administration Department (GAD), which handles protocol issues, said central government offices put up photos of the President and Prime Minister. Similarly, state government offices and offices of department heads have the photograph of the chief minister.
Former mayor Banda Karthika Reddy had put all three photographs (President, PM and CM) in her chambers, which were removed by the new mayor.
–TOI–