AAP and Congress councillors accused the Mayor of preparing the previous House meeting minutes in a biased manner. They alleged that AAP and Congress councillors were unnecessarily removed by marshals during the meeting. The meeting was marked by intense disruptions for approximately an hour. The situation further deteriorated when Congress councillors tore copies of the previous meeting’s minutes and threw them at the Mayor’s table. Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla ordered the removal of councillors who were involved in the disruption and the tearing of the minutes.

In addition to the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor Jasvir Singh Banti, Deputy Mayor Tarun Mehta, and councillor Premlata were also ordered to be removed from the House for tearing the minutes. The ensuing chaos escalated the situation, leading to the intervention of marshals. The Corporation’s proceedings were temporarily suspended for 10 minutes.

The KMC’s directive stipulates that the name on the signboards must appear in Bengali at the top. Other languages may be used below or to the side if necessary, but Bengali must be given primary prominence. The corporation stated that this decision was made after consultation with the law department.

Previously, the use of Bengali was also mandated on signboards and notices in government offices. The KMC had also informally stated in its monthly meetings that questions or proposals should be presented in Bengali. Now, the corporation has clarified this policy by issuing an administrative circular.

Mayor Firhad Hakim of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation recently appealed to the city’s residents, stating, “This is not just a matter of language, but also a matter of cultural identity.” The aim of this decision is to ensure that the people of Kolkata and Bengal can feel the presence of their language everywhere. The mayor has called for ensuring that any document published by the KMC conveys the message of greater use of the Bengali language.

The corporation has requested cooperation from traders and institutions regarding this order. Officials have stated that strict action will be taken if the order is not followed within the stipulated time frame.

Several people have welcomed this step. According to experts, this is a necessary decision to protect the dignity of the language, along with benefiting the general public. A special session of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly was held this week, where discussions took place on the use of the Bengali language and atrocities against Bengali speakers in BJP-ruled states. However, the slogans and uproar by ruling and opposition MLAs on the last day of the session made headlines.

The notice, issued on May 29 by the Municipal Commissioner, states that the farmers have violated regulations by plotting and registering their land within the municipal limits. This action is in contravention of the Municipal Corporation Act and colonizer rules. The case came to light following a letter from the Deputy Registrar, Durg district.

The corporation has demanded a response from the farmers within 15 days. The notice also mentions that if a satisfactory response is not received, the guilty farmers could face imprisonment of 3 to 7 years and a fine of up to one lakh rupees. The farmers are now preparing to seek justice from the Collector.