Mumbai: Rehabilitation of slum dwellers, tourism and drug menace are the main focus areas of Lok Sabha candidates in the Mumbai constituencies that will vote in the fifth phase of general elections on May 20.
Some of them, Mihir Kotecha, Arvind Sawant and Varsha Gaikwad, shared their vision for the city during a debate organized by Mumbai Press Club, Praj Foundation and Free Press Journal at the Indian Merchants Chamber here on Wednesday.
Kotecha, the BJP candidate from Mumbai North East, stressed the need to promote tourism in the metropolis. He now represents Mulund assembly constituency.
He said that a bird park in Mulund would be operational in two years, for which a design consultant has been appointed.“I also have plans for a cable car and an observatory deck on the hills of Mulund from where the beautiful Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tulsi Lake can be seen. Local tourism can be promoted by highlighting the importance of the green lungs of the city,” he said.
He described Mankhurd in Mumbai North East parliamentary constituency as a den of drug cartels and criminals and said that if elected, he would use all his strength to get rid of this menace.
Asked whether labeling the area a den of criminals could amount to hate speech, Kotecha said he was speaking facts. Local people have been affected by criminal activities and want the area to be free of drugs and crimes, Kotecha said, adding that they are demanding more rehabilitation centers in the city.“There is a need to make Mumbai slum-free,” he said.
“Slum dwellers are the main labor force that runs Mumbai. Banks do not finance slough rehabilitation projects. Big builders do not want to work in slums. The two obstacles are red tape and (lack of finance),” he said.Sitting MP Arvind Sawant, who is contesting for the third time from Mumbai South seat, said MPs have to act as a catalyst between the state and the central government.
“We are law makers and policy makers. I am working with the Union Ministry of Shipping on the development of Mumbai's eastern coast. The shipping minister was positive about the project after the rehabilitation of hut dwellers,'' said Sai Sawant, who has been nominated by Shiv Sena (UBT).
However, the minister was removed, Sawant claimed while attacking the BJP government.“Manipur is a serious stain on Indian culture. When we raised the issue, 146 MPs were suspended and immediately 20 bills were passed. One of the bills was to remove the Chief Justice of India from the committee that selects the Chief Election Commissioner,” he said.
He said, the term “Modi Guarantee” smacks of arrogance. Sawant said, “Therefore, we say there must be a change otherwise such dictatorship will continue.,
He also accused the Center of not allowing redevelopment of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai, not giving classical language status to Marathi and not naming the Mumbai Central Railway Station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth.
Highlighting the Dharavi redevelopment project, city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, who is contesting from Mumbai North Centra seat, said her party is not against redevelopment but against the displacement of seven lakh residents of the slum.
"The redevelopment (of Dharavi) should benefit the people, not the developer," he said.
He also distanced himself from his party colleague Vijay Waddetiwar's comment that former ATS chief Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the 26/11 attacks. “This is his personal statement and not the party's stance,” he said.,
Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Wadettiwar had recently courted controversy by claiming that 26/11 prosecution lawyer and BJP's Mumbai North Central candidate Ujjwal Nikam had hidden the information that Karkar was not killed by Kasab but He died due to bullet injury. Of a policeman associated with RSS.
Some of them, Mihir Kotecha, Arvind Sawant and Varsha Gaikwad, shared their vision for the city during a debate organized by Mumbai Press Club, Praj Foundation and Free Press Journal at the Indian Merchants Chamber here on Wednesday.
Kotecha, the BJP candidate from Mumbai North East, stressed the need to promote tourism in the metropolis. He now represents Mulund assembly constituency.
He said that a bird park in Mulund would be operational in two years, for which a design consultant has been appointed.“I also have plans for a cable car and an observatory deck on the hills of Mulund from where the beautiful Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tulsi Lake can be seen. Local tourism can be promoted by highlighting the importance of the green lungs of the city,” he said.
He described Mankhurd in Mumbai North East parliamentary constituency as a den of drug cartels and criminals and said that if elected, he would use all his strength to get rid of this menace.
Asked whether labeling the area a den of criminals could amount to hate speech, Kotecha said he was speaking facts. Local people have been affected by criminal activities and want the area to be free of drugs and crimes, Kotecha said, adding that they are demanding more rehabilitation centers in the city.“There is a need to make Mumbai slum-free,” he said.
“Slum dwellers are the main labor force that runs Mumbai. Banks do not finance slough rehabilitation projects. Big builders do not want to work in slums. The two obstacles are red tape and (lack of finance),” he said.Sitting MP Arvind Sawant, who is contesting for the third time from Mumbai South seat, said MPs have to act as a catalyst between the state and the central government.
“We are law makers and policy makers. I am working with the Union Ministry of Shipping on the development of Mumbai's eastern coast. The shipping minister was positive about the project after the rehabilitation of hut dwellers,'' said Sai Sawant, who has been nominated by Shiv Sena (UBT).
However, the minister was removed, Sawant claimed while attacking the BJP government.“Manipur is a serious stain on Indian culture. When we raised the issue, 146 MPs were suspended and immediately 20 bills were passed. One of the bills was to remove the Chief Justice of India from the committee that selects the Chief Election Commissioner,” he said.
He said, the term “Modi Guarantee” smacks of arrogance. Sawant said, “Therefore, we say there must be a change otherwise such dictatorship will continue.,
He also accused the Center of not allowing redevelopment of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai, not giving classical language status to Marathi and not naming the Mumbai Central Railway Station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth.
Highlighting the Dharavi redevelopment project, city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, who is contesting from Mumbai North Centra seat, said her party is not against redevelopment but against the displacement of seven lakh residents of the slum.
"The redevelopment (of Dharavi) should benefit the people, not the developer," he said.
He also distanced himself from his party colleague Vijay Waddetiwar's comment that former ATS chief Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the 26/11 attacks. “This is his personal statement and not the party's stance,” he said.,
Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Wadettiwar had recently courted controversy by claiming that 26/11 prosecution lawyer and BJP's Mumbai North Central candidate Ujjwal Nikam had hidden the information that Karkar was not killed by Kasab but He died due to bullet injury. Of a policeman associated with RSS.
