Former MP Gopal Shetty shaves head to protest BMC demolition in Borivali

BJP's former Member of Parliament, Gopal Shetty, has strongly protested against the demolition drive carried out by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the Borivali East area of Mumbai. He expressed his anger by shaving his head in protest against this action. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the BMC demolished 27 houses built on 3,400 square metre land on Swami Vivekananda Road in Borivali East in the early hours of 4 November. This land had been reserved for a BEST bus station.

Gopal Shetty termed this action a 'mockery of democracy'. He alleged that the residents were only given notice at 1.30 am, and by 7 am, their houses were demolished. During this period, people were not given sufficient time to move their household belongings out. Shetty said, "I have never seen such action in my public life." Referring to the 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, he remarked that even he was given 8 years for trial and had the opportunity to approach the President after being convicted, but here, such treatment has been meted out to poor families.

The former MP claimed that the land on which these houses stood was private land and people had been living there for almost 50 years. They also possess property assessment bills. He accused the BMC of presenting false information to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had previously directed the BMC to remove the encroachments and, due to non-compliance with the order, had stayed the November salaries of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and concerned officials. However, the court later withdrew this order after the BMC informed that the encroachments had been removed. Shetty has demanded that the judiciary should investigate the role of the responsible officials in this entire matter.

Amidst this controversy, the BMC has issued show-cause notices to R-Central Ward Assistant Municipal Commissioner Praful Tambe and Law Officer Komal Punjabi for administrative lapses and has also changed the charge of the Law Department. On the other hand, Gopal Shetty has expressed dissatisfaction with the local leadership of his own party. He said that BJP leaders of North Mumbai have neither visited the affected families nor supported them. He clarified that he will stay away from party programs and will raise this issue before the party's high leadership in Delhi.