Traders, tenants join forces to oppose Rent Control Act

MUMBAI, February 13: Forming a unique combination, traders, trade unionists and tenants in the city today expressed complete disbelief in Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and state chief minister Manohar Joshi, and threatened to stage Mumbai bandh if the government failed to assure in writing that the “anti-tenant” new Rent Control Act will not be enacted. The deadline given to the alliance government to put things in black and white is February 20.

In a meeting held this afternoon at Karsan Ladubhai hall in Dadar west, hundreds of traders, workers and tenants positively responded to the appeal made by the Action Committee for Protection of Tenants’ Rights, Federation of Associations of Maharashtra and Trade Unions’ Joint Action Committee. The meeting continued in a charged atmosphere and lasted for about three hours. Every speaker warned political parties to stay away from the Committee’s struggle and wanted details of buildings and properties owned by politicians to be made public. Chandrashekhar Prabhu ofthe Committee said, “Both the Sharad Pawar and Manohar Joshi governments have cheated the tenants. The government has told the Supreme Court that the new act, providing an increase in the rent, will be enacted by March 31, 1998. However, he told the public through the press that the rent would not be increased by a rupee. We do not need Thackeray to take a morcha for us. In fact, no politician should join us.”

Prabhu alleged that three Congress leaders, two SP and JD leaders and many SS-BJP leaders have purchased buildings in and around Dadar and hence were inactive in opposing the proposed act.