Maharashtra News: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata of hatching a plan to forcibly remove slums from Mumbai and relocate those living in them to salt pan lands. Thackeray was speaking at a news conference. He latched on to the remarks of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat.
In an interaction with a media house, the Union Minister had said if elected, he intends to pursue a project that would entirely clear his constituency, which comprises northern suburbs like Malad, Kandivali and Borivli, of slums. Goyal had welcomed the idea of salt pan lands in Mumbai to be redistributed for slum rehabilitation.
Responding to the BJP leader’s remarks, Thackeray, who was a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi regime, said, “This is a very dangerous scheme. Those who live in slums have their livelihood around that place. We will not allow them (BJP) to go ahead with their plan to relocate slums to saltpans”. “The BJP’s policy is not to eradicate poverty, but poor people,” he alleged .
A candidate from Mumbai North, Shri Piyush Goyal ji, of the bjp, said in an interview to a prominent newspaper that slums must go, and that they’ll probably be shifted out to all salt pan lands.
Goyal ji, the bjp has had a full majority (authoritarian) govt at the centre for 10…
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) March 30, 2024
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader attacked the BJP and said that it cannot shift anyone forcefully and this is unjust and it is a core issue for a lot of Mumbaikars.
“In an interview with a major newspaper, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that he wishes to make Mumbai slum-free, by shifting all the slums to salt pan lands of the city. You cannot forcefully shift anyone in this country. They have a voice and they need to be heard… Salt pan lands are environmentally sensitive… This is unjust and it is dictatorship… This is a core issue for a lot of Mumbaikars,” he said.
#WATCH | Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray says, “In an interview with a major newspaper, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that he wishes to make Mumbai slum-free, by shifting all the slums to salt pan lands of the city. You cannot forcefully shift anyone in this country.… pic.twitter.com/hA4I8bi964
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2024
Thackeray said that the BJP’s ploy is to give all the salt pans to its “friends” and referred to the Dharavi redevelopment project under which there is a proposal to settle some of the residents on salt pan land in north-eastern Mumbai. He said that it is people of Mumbai who will decide on relocation and not the Centre.
The Maharashtra MLA said that when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government sought salt pan land for the metro rail car shed project, the Centre denied permission. However, the same salt pans are now being used to rehabilitate slum dwellers, he added. Thackeray also accused the BJP-led Centre of demoralising Mumbai and taking away businesses from the metropolis to its “favourite states”.
Piyush Goyal Hits Back
Piyush Goyal slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday for their ‘anti-development agenda” and for opposing the right of every slum dweller in Mumbai to “a better life”. The Union minister had welcomed the idea of salt pan lands in Mumbai to be redistributed for slum rehabilitation.
In a post on social media platform X, Goyal said, “Uddhav Thackeray ji and his son cannot dictate the fate of Mumbai. This city sustains the dreams and aspirations of everyone who calls it their home. Those who live in the slums of the city have every right to a better life.”
“To oppose me for a vision that sees Mumbai transform into one of the finest cities in the world reflects their anti-development agenda. Their blind opposition to our bold ideas and commitment to take development to every doorstep reeks of a mindset to keep the people suppressed and deprived,” he added.
Uddhav Thackeray ji and his son cannot dictate the fate of Mumbai. This city sustains the dreams and aspirations of everyone who calls it their home. Those who live in the slums of the city have every right to a better life. To oppose me for a vision that sees Mumbai transform…
— Piyush Goyal (मोदी का परिवार) (@PiyushGoyal) March 30, 2024
Goyal said he was committed to providing a good home to every slumdweller and rehabilitating them where they live. The Union Minister slammed the Shiv Sena (UBT) and said, “The discredited, disheartened, demoralised and derailed leadership of Uddhav ji cannot provide solutions but only create discord in society”.
