Beware of our conveniently posturing politicians

Trees being cut in Aarey Colony. Pic/Sameer Sayyed Abedi

The Aarey row is on slow simmer with the trees that have already been hacked being cleared and construction of the car depot slated to start. A key take away from the Aarey battle is that the strength of the movement came from civil society.

The ordinary person, the housewife and the professional came together to form the bulwark of opposition to tree felling. While there have been plenty of reports about all the drama that has ensued after ordinary persons voiced their dissent, a moot point in a report in this paper is selective concern by politicians to green causes.

The Shiv Sena has been shouting from the rooftops about Aarey. It has been key though several years earlier, in proposing a theme park at the Mahalaxmi race course, imperiling the lung of SoBo.

Similarly, there was little protest when age old trees were hacked at Indu Mill, Dadar for a memorial, though Prakash Ambekdar, B R Ambedkar's grandson and a visible presence in Aarey denied that any trees were cut. It must alert us to the fact that there is a section of politicians that is selective in its concern for the greens.

When the cause suits them, they will turn a blind eye, deaf ear and actually promote compromising the environment for their party's project. When it is 'convenient' to oppose a project, worth it to milk it for publicity and an election around the corner, they will move to that side.

Treat them with scepticism and cynicism. The real heroes are those who fight for a cause be it save Aarey or another with no agenda. Look through posturing, falsities and convenient causes, it is what you have been educated for and the reason you have a mind. More power to the selfless saviour. In them our faith rests and from them our strength comes.

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