'Mockery of democracy': Ex-BJP MP Gopal Shetty tonsures head in protest over BMC demolition in Borivali
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
Former BJP MP Gopal Shetty has tonsured his head in protest against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) demolition of 27 houses in Borivali East, alleging that the civic body acted in haste without giving residents time to retrieve their belongings.
Adding to this, Former BJP MP Gopal Shetty stagng a protest against the BMC's demolition drive at Borivali in Mumbai, following the demolition of an unauthorised structure on a reserved plot. (Hindustan Times/File) Calling the sudden early-morning drive on November 4 a "mockery of democracy", Shetty on Saturday claimed the structures stood on private land occupied for nearly 50 years, and criticized the local BJP leadership for not supporting the affected families.
Meanwhile, The BMC demolished 27 houses built on a 3,400-sq-metre plot, reserved for a BEST bus station, on Swami Vivekanand Road in Borivali East. The drive was carried out after the Supreme Court pulled up the civic body for failing to remove encroachments despite earlier directions.
Notably, The court had also ordered a freeze on the November salaries of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and concerned officials, besides initiating contempt proceedings. It subsequently withdrew the salary-related direction and contempt notice after the BMC informed it that the structures had been removed.
As per the latest buzz, In conversation with reporters, the BJP leader shared he had tonsured his head as a mark of protest as the affected families were not allowed to remove their household belongings before the demolition.
In further updates, "I have never seen such action in my public life. Even a person like (26/11 terror attack) Ajmal Kasab was given eight years to face trial and an opportunity to approach the President after his conviction," he shared.
On top of that, He claimed that residents were given notices around 1.30 am and their houses were demolished by 7 am, without allowing them sufficient time to remove their belongings.
He further questioned the manner in which the civic body presented the matter before the apex court, accusing it of failing to submit copies of notices issued to occupants and their replies, as sought by the court.
Source: Hindustan Times