Insensitive Maharashtra Govt. reeling under pressure of builder lobbyHundreds of urban poor threaten intense struggle if demands are not met7th April, Golibar/Mumbai: As the indefinite fast and satyagraha by social activist Medha Patkar against the corrupt builder-politician-bureaucrat-police nexus concludes its fourth day, challenging the injustices and atrocities being meted out in the name of ‘slum rehabilitation’, the anger against the ruling establishment that is hand-in-glove with the profit mongering builders is only rising amongst the hard working toiling masses of Mumbai.The fast, which triggered off due to the demolition of 48 houses atGolibar and also many houses at Chandivali, reflects the sentiments ofthousands of poor across the city, who clean, run and build Mumbai,but still have to wage a war for their basic right to shelter, food,education and other civic amenities. Not just at Golibar, corruptionto the tune of hundreds of crores is rampant across Mumbai in variousprojects in the garb of ‘slum rehabilitation’. Land and resource grabis the only motive with which the ‘builders’ operate, aided activelyby the State machinery. The demolitions at Golibar, despite theongoing inquiry against Shivalik Ventures, only goes on to prove thehigh-handedness of the builder lobby in the state.Agitated at the lack of response by the State, hundreds ghearoed theoffice of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority yesterday and demanded ajoint interaction with the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary(Housing), Joint Commissioner of Police, CEO of SRA, Chairman ofMHADA, Additional Collector and other concerned officials. However,this demand has not yet been conceded to, compelling Ms. Patkar tocontinue the fast. Hundreds of urban poor from various bastis areconstantly joining the agitation.It is absolutely shameful that the police administration is completelysilenced by the bullying builder and is infact serving notices oflegal action against Medha Patkar for any law and order problems dueto the fast! The people have condemned such tactics of the State andhave also threatened to intensify their struggle if the legitimatedemands put forth by the Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan are not met,in time.Ajit Gawkhadkar                 Prerna Gaikwad          Madhuri Shivkar                 MeeraPh: 9892727063     |      09179148973      |   09423571784      | 020-24251404