PMC staff union protests after BJP MLA Nitesh Rane uses ‘foul language’ against civic employees during stir

On Monday, various pro-Hindu organisations, including the BJP, staged a protest outside the PMC main building under the banner of the Punyeshwar Punarnirman Samiti seeking to remove alleged encroachments along the temple by another religious organisation, and warned that if action is not taken in 48 hours, they would “take the law into their hands”.

The agitation was led by BJP legislators Nitesh Rane and Mahesh Landge along with city BJP chief Dheeraj Ghate and former mayor Murlidhar Mohol. Rane, while addressing the gathering, had allegedly used foul language against civic officers including the municipal commissioner and the city engineer. They claimed that the land encroached upon belongs to Punyeshwar temple and that the administration had been turning a blind eye to it.

MLA Nitish Rane (extreme right) during the protest at PMC on Monday by ‘Punyeshwar punarnirman samiti’ demanding the removal of alleged encroachments on the land of Punyeshwar temple . (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

Terming the incident “serious”, Uday Bhat of the PMC Employees’ Union said, “The incident that took place during Monday’s agitation concerns me as to where we are heading. It is not limited to the PMC, but is widespread. We will have to work to save our Constitution, democracy and our rights. If such treatment is meted out to civic staff, the system will suffer. Those misbehaving with civic employees should realise their mistake and stop this. They should not make the civic staff suffer for their political benefits.”

City engineer Prashant Waghmare said the matter raised in the agitation has been pending before court for long and the PMC had issued a stop-work notice in 2019 in connection with the encroachment. “It is wrong of those agitating to use foul language against civic staff as all of them are working in the interest of the city. Targeting anyone demoralises them. We are among the best-performing civic bodies in the country. Instead of encouraging them for their good work, the civic staff are being made soft targets for matters they are not responsible for. It is incorrect.”

Deputy Municipal Commissioner and in-charge of the civic anti-encroachment department Madhav Jagtap said the staff are often treated poorly. “We have been merely registering our protest in a meeting and getting back to work. Someone from outside comes and uses foul language against civic staff. If this is repeated, we will respond in the same manner and we will not tolerate it anymore. This issue should now be taken up at a higher level so that no one will dare to misbehave with civic staff,” he said.

According to chief engineer Annirudha Pawaskar, “Those agitating should do it as per law but should not use foul language. Insulting the municipal commissioner and city engineer is insulting the PMC. We will not tolerate it… If we decide to stop work, there will be chaos, but we won’t do so as it would create inconvenience to citizens.”