Ulhasnagar...

Mode - Serious.
Mood - St. Anger Round my Neck (and He will Get Respect).

Please read the following links:-

http://kusumrohra.blogspot.com/2005/11/demolitions-in-ulhasnagar.html

http://kusumrohra.blogspot.com/2005/12/this-is-no-solution.html

http://kusumrohra.blogspot.com/2005/12/congratulations-ulhasnagar.html


Well, i suppose the government hasnt seen the slums that are ... Bang in the Middle of Mumbai. I think these harebrained morons who constitute the civic bodies suffer from severe near-blindedness. They cannot see slums and illegal constructions right across their street.

Actually, we Sindhis are not large enough a votebank to matter to the politicians, and I suppose the government is looking for some easy money. I feel cheated and discriminated against when I see slums on the western express highway, in the prime industrial areas of Mumbai being regularized , while at the same time marking a whole goddamned city as illegal. Hahh.. laughable.

There are slums in the middle of Mumbai, starting right from Fort and in Dadar, Matunga, Wadala areas. From there on, you will find illegal slums and constructions all over Mumbai, on the eastern and western express highways, near every railway station and along the tracks, and heck.. even the airport is surrounded by slums.

Most of the times, you will find a picture of a politician displayed prominently, or a board proudly announcing one as the "owner/benefactor/guardian angel" of the slum. Also you will find symbols of the political parties they are votebanks for. The slums of Bandra and Andheri are patronized by Sunil Dutt. Ohh.. what a respectful man, isnt he.

He and his son and daughter live in the posh Juhu area, away from the slums , but will not bother about the rest of the common public who has to face public nuisance everyday. And that guy is respected. Really funny, the very same people, some of the Mumbai elite, and press wallahs who honour him and sing paens to him might some day have been late or lost out or beaten by the slumdwellers. And the guy was an honoured MP. He was called at functions and for cutting red tapes (thats what he seemed to be good for, like most politicians). The same "Sunil Dutt ka banaya hua public nuisance", which he kept for a few measly votes. Sunil Dutt could have done better to actually improve his constituency instead of nurturing slums !!! Haa..

Similarly, most of the slums in Pune bear the picture of another Pune page3 politician, who owns a petrol pump and an automobile showroom in the city. You know who I am talking about. The same guy lives in a posh locality, and is a businessman making money out of selling petrol (i m not sure if its adulterated, but most of the petrol pumps in Pune sell low quality fuel). I am not sure if he is involved in any criminal activity, but "owning" a slum on public land is close to that. The slumdwellers vote and canvass for him, and he in turn manages to let them live illegally. Neat deal :-) . The administration/courts cannot do anything to the public nuisance brawlers created by the "respected" likes of these politicians, but would then turn their attention to .. what else.. Ulhasnagar and schools in Delhi.

No, i m not arguing for making two wrongs to set things right, but this is blatant discrimination. The people who bought the flats there with their lives savings are being cheated, while the builders, corporators and politicians go scotfree. There are illegal slums/constructions which have been in existence for a shorter duration than Ulhasnagar and they are being legalized/regularized. So whats the problem with a *city*.

Is it because Ulhasnagar doesnt return a Congress MP/MLA/corporator/anydamnthing , that such a thing is being done. ??
Anyway, we Sindhis have worked hard to reach where we are, from scratch, and we will do it again.