Image Courtesy: freepressjournal.in
The women of Mumbai Bagh who have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) for fifteen days now, have met the Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi and agreed to cooperate for the Morland Road construction work. The Satyagraha by the women is set to continue during this time.
A delegation of 13 people, including local representatives Zahida Shaikh, Umme Muhammad, Meher Ansari, Maryam Tinwala, Farid Khan, Waqar Ahmad, corporators Kaptan Malik, activist Feroze Mithiborewala, media professional Binjal Shah and social activist Guddi met to ensure their co-operation to resume construction at the Morland Road which is the site of the sit-in protest.
On February 7, 2020, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Alka Sasane had filed a complaint against the Mumbai Bagh protestors in which the police had registered 300 unnamed FIRs. She had alleged that the construction work on the road was getting stalled due to the protest.
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Copy of FIR lodged at Nagpada Police Station on #MumbaiBagh pic.twitter.com/wPFhOvQQVa
— Feroz Ansari (@AdvFerozAnsari) February 10, 2020
“The construction work at Morland Road only began three month ago, and was being carried out sporadically. It was not a motorable road, and access for vehicles as well as two-wheelers had already been largely restricted,” states Meher Ansari, a long-time local resident of Madanpura, who frequents this road on her way to work.
However, according to the FIR, the indefinite protest has led to the stalling of construction work, and is causing an obstruction to traffic, amongst other things. “Chief Engineer for roads and traffic Sanjay Darade will now contact me to discuss how construction work – which mainly constitutes the renovation of the sidewalk – can be resumed,” states NCP Corporator Kaptan Malik, who was also part of the delegation.
In that matter, Pardeshi has assured that he would speak to Mumbai police Commissioner Sanjay Barve to have the FIRs revoked.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has plans to finish the construction work before the monsoon sets in. In this regard, the members of Mumbai Bagh have not only extended their cooperation, but have also offered shramdaan to facilitate the construction.
In light of the violence of the Delhi police on the students of Jamia Millia Islamia University, the members of Mumbai Bagh have scheduled a candlelight vigil to express their solidarity with the students and condemn the actions of the Delhi Police.
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Candlelight vigil at #MumbaiBagh tonight against police violence in Delhi.#Jamia pic.twitter.com/d7AxbPNH90
— CAA / NRC Protest Info. (@NrcProtest) February 10, 2020
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