Mayor writes to home minister over MLA’s alleged remark

Mayor Kishori Pednekar. File pic/Ashish Raje; (right) Ashish Shelar. Pic/Sameer Markande

A political war broke out in the BMC on Tuesday after an alleged objectionable remark by BJP MLA Ashish Shelar against Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar. Pednekar has written a letter to Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Valse Patil, complaining about the issue. Shelar allegedly made the remark after she visited the survivors of the Worli gas cylinder blast. On Monday, the State Women's Commission also objected to the remark and directed the commissioner of police, Mumbai, to submit a report on the matter.

In the letter to the minister, Pednekar claimed that Shelar, in a press conference regarding the Worli gas cylinder blast on December 4, said, "The Mumbai Mayor visited [those injured in the blast] after 72 hours of the incident. Where were you [the mayor] sleeping for these many hours?"

"The Mayor of Mumbai is the first citizen and it is a very important post. The term used to describe me is objectionable," Pednekar's letter reads. In the letter, she has said that the words used by him "insulted her and all women". She said she will also file a police complaint on the issue.

State Women's Commission chief also slams Shelar

The State Women's Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar in her letter about the issue to the police chief has said, "The Women's Commission has taken suo motu note of BJP (MLA) and former minister Ashish Shelar's derogatory remark against Pednekar. The commission will not tolerate the use of such language against women." The commission has also decided to file a case against Shelar.

Shelar had slammed the mayor for her allegedly delayed response in reaching out to the victims. His mention of the word "sleeping" has invited sharp rebuke from ruling parties.

Three people died and a five-year-old boy is the only survivor in the cylinder blast in Worli on November 30. A video alleging negligence by the hospital staff went viral and initiated a political war between Sena and BJP. The BMC has formed a committee of external doctors to probe the matter. The report may take a week.

Women corporators of the BJP have also approached the police regarding Shelar's 'remarks'. Their letter to the police said, "Ashish Shelar didn't comment on a person, it was against the ruling Shiv Sena. But some people are maligning the image of the mayor on social media by using part of the video."

Shiv Sena to adopt Vishnu

Pednekar has announced that the Shiv Sena will adopt the lone survivor of the blast, five-year-old Vishnu.