Shiv Sena neglecting Marathi manoos: BJP

Prabhakar Shinde, group leader, BJP

The BJP has once again accused the Shiv Sena of neglecting ‘Marathi manoos' and forcing them to leave the city. It alleged that the Marathis are being ignored on many levels, be it internal posting in the BMC, compensation for project-affected people or selection of a contractor for development projects. The issue had first surfaced last month over the appointment of a non-Marathi employee to the post claimed by a Marathi officer on the criteria of seniority. The BJP had held a press conference two weeks back to target the Sena over it.

The issue resurfaced again on Wednesday after the civic administration sought permission to take back a proposal for the development of houses for sanitation workers under Ashray scheme. "Twelve proposals had come for discussion in the standing committee meeting. We opposed all proposals citing various reasons. The Shiv Sena still cleared 11 proposals that had non-Marathi contractors and rejected the one where a Marathi contractor had quoted the lowest amount. The Sena didn't give any explanation for keeping it aside," said Prabhakar Shinde, group leader of the BJP.

Yashwant Jadhav, Shiv Sena corporator

The BJP alleged that the new policy for giving monetary compensation to project-affected people (PAP) will throw Marathis out of the city. "The Sena is throwing Marathi people outside Mumbai. Local Marathis staying in shanties will be affected. The maximum compensation in the suburbs is less than Rs 30 lakh and no one can afford a home in this budget in any area of the city. People will go outside in search of a home," said Bhalchandra Shirsat, spokesperson of the BJP. Shirsat said that Sena has nothing to do with the Marathi people and that is reflected in many issues.

"The BJP's love for Marathis is for the elections. Out of 82 corporators of the BJP, 40 are non- Marathi. The BJP opposed giving food trucks through corporators. These trucks will be operated by women self-help groups -- all Marathis. Shiv Sena was born for the rights of Marathis, and it will continue to work for them. We are not against non-Marathi people," said Yashwant Jadhav, corporator of Shiv Sena and chairman of the standing committee meeting.