Quit India Movement anniversary: BJP trying to dilute, rewrite history, alleges Congress

Quit India Movement anniversary: Holding event at August Kranti Maidan without proper permission will be an insult to freedom fighters, says Nirupam

Preparations are on at August Kranti Maidan to mark the Quit India Movement on August 9. Express Photo by Aman Deshmukh

As the BJP-led state government announced the launch of a second ‘Quit India’ struggle against various social ills on Tuesday, the Mumbai Congress — which holds a memorial event at the August Kranti Maidan every year as a tribute to those who participated in the events of August 8, 1942 — said the BJP was trying to co-opt the Quit India struggle and attempting to rewrite history.

Also, the Shiv Sena-led BMC was still to give permission to the BJP to erect a stage at the maidan near Gamdevi, said Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, adding the state government had, meanwhile, gone ahead and constructed a stage at the venue without proper permission.

Nirupam alleged by raising social evils such as illiteracy, farmer suicides, wastage of water, substance addiction and corruption on the anniversary of the Quit India movement, the BJP was trying to dilute the historical significance of the day. “The movement was the final assault on the British in the freedom struggle in 1942 and the Congress has been hosting a floral tribute for the freedom fighters every year. The BJP is now taking over the Congress’ event, the party which was actively involved in the movement led by Mahatma Gandhi,” said Nirupam.

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He said this year, the BJP had forcibly taken over the space in the Gowalia Tank maidan, called the August Kranti Maidan, on the day of their event without any permission. Nirupam claimed like every year, Congress party workers had applied for permission with the ASI, Mumbai Police and BMC on July 18 for the function to be held on August 9.

Even though the ASI and Mumbai Police have granted permission, the BMC’s approval is still awaited. “We had applied for permission a month in advance. But, the BJP decided to hold their event at the same venue days before the event and are going ahead without any permission. They are trying to re-write the historical significance of this day and it will be an insult to the freedom fighters,” he said.

Nirupam alleged the construction of a 50,000 sqft stage had been taken up by local BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

Congress workers will stage a protest at the venue at 9 am Tuesday. Congress corporator Pravin Chheda claimed the assistant municipal commissioner of D ward had said no permission had been granted for the event. “The ward officer clearly said the BMC has not issued any permission to allow construction of the stage on August Kranti grounds. In that case, the ongoing construction is illegal and the BMC should demolish it,” said Chheda.

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Refuting the Congress’ claims, Lodha said he had nothing to do with the construction of the stage. “The event has been organised by the culture department of the state government. I am an MLA from the area and will attend the event. Apart from that, I have no connection with the event,” he said.

Despite several calls and messages, civic officials were unavailable for comment on whether the stage construction was with adequate permissions.

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