Local neta launches hunger strike; gets over 70,000 residents to shut their shops for a few cracks on a Shivaji statue
Local neta launches hunger strike; gets over 70,000 residents to shut their shops for a few cracks on a Shivaji statue
Former municipal councillor Nicholas Almeida has called for a bandh in Sahar village today as a method of protest against a few cracks that have developed on the base of a statue of Shivaji Maharaj near the international Airport.
All shops, except medical stores, will be closed today, thereby affecting the 70,000-odd residents of the area. Since the area is mainly commercial, losses are expected to amount to a few lakhs.
Total bandh
However, Almeida, who has been on a hunger strike since Monday to protest against the cracks, is unfazed about this.
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Fast to Death: Nicholas Almeida is on a hunger strike to stop construction work by GVK group at Sahar village. |
"The people of the area are with me in my protest. I am on a fast unto death, as we want the culprits arrested," he said.
Pressure cracksAnd the culprits, according to Almeida is an infrastructure company.
"The cracks are due to the pressure on the statue's land caused by the construction work going on in the adjoining land, which is owned by GVK Group. These cracks are an insult to Shivaji Maharaj," said Almeida.
Almeida had even written letters to the election officer of Vile Parle constituency and the Sahar police station asking for the arrest of those responsible. Since no action has been taken yet, he has called for a bandh.
Shiv Sena too had raised the issue of the cracks, but it seems Almeida has managed to beat them in the race for capitalising on the topic.
