29 April,2009 07:53 AM IST | | Fayyaz S Pathan
At a rally with Priya Dutt in Marol on Saturday, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan promised that rehabilitation of project-affected people staying in slums, would be undertaken as humanely as possible and in the same area.
This is anti-democratic and at the cost of the public exchequer. When any illegal construction is against BMC norms, what right does the CM have to give them legal status?
Instead of saying that all illegal slums, shanties and encroachments would be demolished, as the aam aadmi has to endure all these costs via taxes, he is misusing his powers by encouraging slum dwellers.
The HC has pulled up the BMC for not doing their job of eradicating slums. Similarly, even politicians who are pro-slums should be reprimanded. If they are so concerned about the slum dwellers, they should rehabilitate them near their lavish homes and then bear their cost. If such a law comes into existence, I can vouch that none of our pro-slum politicians will speak a word about slums.
The state and central governments should snatch away the voting rights of these slum dwellers. And soon we'll have a clean Mumbai with peace-loving and literate citizens.
