West Asia conflict, Epstein Files… all in budget debate!

Indore: IMC's budget presentation on Tuesday descended into chaos after the proceedings were marred by slogans that took ‘global hues' with references to West Asia conflict and even Epstein Files.Immediately after Mayor's opening remarks and tribute to the departed prominent persons, Congress corporators Rubina Iqbal Khan and Fauzia Sheikh Alim sought to pay tributes to Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei and 200 Iranian schoolchildren killed in the US strike.Rubina's statement that Khamenei was ‘martyred by the US through deception' sparked immediate outrage. BJP corporators retaliated with slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram,' leading to a heated shouting from both sides that overshadowed city's development agenda.Leader of Opposition Chintu Choukse and other Congress members arrived wearing black armbands. Corporator Kunal Solanki was seen wearing a T-shirt with a slogan: ‘Drink drain water—the story of IMC's development,' protesting recent deaths in Bhagirathpura allegedly caused by contaminated water.The session reached a surreal peak when, amidst hooting and chants of ‘Modi-Modi' from the BJP benches, Congress corporators began shouting "Epstein Files! Epstein Files!"The majority of the session was lost to irrelevant debates on Gulf War and international figures, leaving Indore's civic projects momentarily sidelined.