SURAT: It is a custom in the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to have a group photo clicked of all councillors when term of mayor expires. But a decision by
Surat mayor Asmita Shiroya with regard to the ceremony has landed her in a controversy.
Shiroya had desired that the group photo be clicked with all councillors looking neat and tidy in blazers. So all the councillors were asked to get their blazers stitched from a specific shop.
A BJP councillor said that they got a call from SMC to go to a specific shop and give measurement for the blazer.
However, Congress members opposed this dictate and questioned Shiroya’s decision. “Why should SMC pay for blazers for councillors and that too at the time of financial crisis?” the Congress asked.
Aslam Cyclewala, a Congress councillor from ward 18 (Anajana -Khatodara) paid Rs 2,900 for his blazer and showed his protest. He said, “I respect the post of mayor so I wore the blazer, but paid from my own pocket and not billed it to SMC.”
However, mayor Shiroya she had paid for all the blazers. “This is my remembrance gift to all fellow councillors at the end of my term as mayor,” Shiroya told TOI.
Mayor Asmita Shiroya said she paid for all the blazers