Regularise The Illegal?
In a democracy one can protest against almost anything. After 75 people were killed in the building collapse in Mumbra, the state government initiated demolition drives against illegal constructions. However, the local politicians, who started out by demanding regularisation of these buildings, decided to call for a bandh on Thursday. Interestingly, leaders of Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena came together in opposing the razing of these potentially dangerous buildings, while vociferously claiming to be pro-poor (and not pro-illegal?). They have now demanded alternate accommodation for the residents. Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has refused to stay the demolition as of now. The survivors of the building collapse and their relatives must be wondering why this drive had not happened before…