As the Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Republican Party of India (RPI) prepare for their joint rally, the Congress on Tuesday played its Dalit card by demanding immediate transfer of Indu Mills land for the expansion of Chaityabhoomi in Dadar.
Earlier on Tuesday, BJP leader Vinod Tawde declared that the Mahamorcha on June 9 would be part of the ongoing movement against corruption in the country. “Apart from the political equations, the social equations in the state are also going to change as a result of this rally. We will take anti-government slogans to each and every village in the state. The people of the state are welcoming the alliance, and we are sure that this is the beginning of the end of the government,” said Tawde.
The Congress then jumped into the fray by demanding the immediate transfer of Indu mills land for Chaityabhoomi. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre said that the MPCC had raised the demand with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and that he agreed.
“If needed, we will even approach prime minister Manmohan Singh. The land is needed for beautification of Chaityabhoomi, as lakhs of people visit the place. The Congress will follow up the issue till the goal is achieved,” said Thakre.
The issue of transfer of land has been pending for six to seven years. The decision was approved in 2004. It was also decided four of the 12 acres will be acquired to build a national memorial of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Extra FSI will be given as compensation. Thakre, however, did not say how much land will be acquired, saying that the acquisition will be “as per the requirement”.
In the wake of the RPI joining hands with the saffron alliance, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had raised a demand to rename Dadar station as Chaityabhoomi. The Congress has now jumped into the fray. “Till today, none of these parties ever bothered to pay attention to our issues. The issue of Indu Mills land has been pending for many years. The Congress has now suddenly woken up to the issue. This shows they are scared of our alliance,” said Arjun Dangle, RPI leader. Meanwhile, at a press conference held in Mumbai , RPI leader Ramdas Athavale said that industries minister Narayan Rane should leave the Congress and rejoin the Shiv Sena as the Congress has refused to make him CM.
