Open spaces: Sena says it’s backstabbing as BJP govt puts policy on hold

Calling the demand to review the policy, which BJP corporators did not oppose earlier, a “betrayal of trust”, Sena corporator and leader of the BMC House Trushna Vishwasrao said, “This is just a drama by the BJP and nothing else. First, they asked us to prepare the policy and also passed it in the improvements committee, which is headed by the BJP. Then, the policy was placed before the general body. In the general body meeting also, the BJP voted in support of the policy. This is nothing but backstabbing by the BJP.”

She said this was not the first instance of the BJP throwing a spanner in the works initiated by its ally. “Earlier also, the BJP got the pay-and-park policy, approved by the BMC, stayed by the chief minister. It seems they are only interested in doing politics. They don’t want Shiv Sena to do any work,” added Vishwasrao.

Yashodhar Phanse, standing committee chairman and senior Sena leader, said it clearly showed the BJP’s double standards on the policy. “After approving it in the improvements committee meeting, they raised some questions on the policy during the general body meeting, which were answered. Now, we don’t understand what is their stand actually,” said the senior Sena corporator.

Since the policy was to be implemented only after the government’s approval, Phanse said, the state could have made changes after receiving the policy from the BMC.

Earlier in the day, MNS president Raj Thackeray said his party would run a signature campaign against the policy, claiming that the entire exercise was a “land grab operation” under the grab of a new policy.

“Public lands need to be used for public good. Under the grab of the policy, land is being given to politicians and builders who will use it for their own benefit. This is not good for the city and we will oppose it,” Thackeray had said at a hurriedly called press conference at his home in Dadar. He claimed that nearly 1,200 acres were at stake.

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