MLA Ganesh Naik sits on martyr memorial proposal

400 members of ex-servicemen league in Navi Mumbai fight uphill battle to get NCP leader to fulfil their demandsu00a0Navi Mumbai Ex-servicemen League (NMEL), a 400-member-strong 20-year-old registered body of ex-servicemen in Navi Mumbai can't get local leaders to fulfill their three demands.u00a0In April 2009, the NMEL wrote to Ganesh Naik, the sitting MLA from the local constituency, demanding that a martyr's memorial be erected, two roads in the town be named after soldier-martyrs, and some space be allotted for an NMEL office.Col D P Singh, president, NMEL, said, We are ex-servicemen. We deserved to be treated with respect. We don't need funds, but merely a place to assemble. We are forced to meet in public places now.Ramkrishan Nambiar, general secretary, NMEL, said, The number of youths who opt for the armed forces is declining every year. Angry: Some members of the Navi Mumbai Ex-servicemen LeagueGive us some space to operate and we, who have been in the armed forces, will encourage more youngsters to enlist.Major M Bharate, vice president, NMEL, said, Navi Mumbai's Municipal Corpor-ation (NMMC) plans to name a road after the Chirag Patel, a Std V student of Jijamata School in Koparkhairane, who died in an accident last week.u00a0If they can pay homage to that child's soul, why are they ignoring our demands of naming roads after war martyrs? The Other Side Local MP Sanjeev Naik, who is son of MLA Ganesh Naik, said it was not correct to say that they were ignoring the ex-servicemen's demands. Their demands are being considered by Ganesh and other members of our party. We should be able to reach a conclusion soon. Supporters of the Naiks, who are from the NCP dominate the NMMC.