7th Day of Struggle of Basti Dwellers & Working Class Intensifies at Azad Maidan

By Dilip -

Struggle of Basti Dwellers and Working Class Intensifies at Azad Maidan
Maharashtra Government Continues to Buck Responsibility

Mumbai, January 7 : Government of Maharashtra today also failed to respond to the rightful demands of housing of thousands of urban poor and lower middle class working people of Mumbai. Anshan of 30 representatives from various slums continues, so does the sit-in by thousands at Azad Maidan. Today Azad Maidan was packed with more than 8,000 people demanding their right to dignified housing and right to land. Even as government refuses to address the issues, more and more people are joining the dharna everyday and mood remained upbeat and slogans of we shall fight, we shall win continued to reverberate.

In spite of Azad Maidan being so near to Mantralaya, no official or representative of Government has come even once to have a dialogue with people or to receive the memos prepared by citizens of Mumbai who have every right to demand answers to questions that concern their lives. This raises some serious doubts about Government’s intentions to consider the problems and hardships faced by the majority of the citizens of Mumbai.

A delegation also went and briefed the State Human Rights Commission on the prevailing situation in the bastis where basic human rights arebeing violated everyday due to illegal demolitions, evictions and land grab by powerful builders.  A similar complaint was also lodged with theNational human Rights Commission.

The Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, on its 7th day, showed solidarity and extended its support to the protest rally of Jain community of Mumbai, here at Azad Maidan, to condemn the recent attacks on Jain Temples and saints. GBGB strongly believes in non-violence and has taken up the path of Satyagrah to demand the rights of the people.

Support to the struggle continued to pour in from all over the country.Shri Ramdas Athavale of RPI, Smt. Ruksana Siddqui of Samajwadi Party came to Azad Maidan and supported the demands of implementation of Rajeev Awas Yojana and investigation into massive corruption by the builders which has led to serious deprivation and violation of rights of thousands. Many other senior activists also came to strengthen the Andolan and lent their voices of solidarity.

People are determined to continue and even intensify the struggle until the demands are fulfilled.

Medha Patkar, Jamil bhai, Mohan Chavan, Madhuri Shivkar, Madhuri Variyath, Sumit Wajale, Santosh Thorat, Sandeep Yevale, Kishor Kardak, Girija Bahen,  Prabhakar Narkar, Shilpa Sabale, Kamlesh S S, Siraj, Umar bhai, Shabbir Deshmukh

Organised by : Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, Janta Jagruti Manch, Shahar Vikas Manch, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar Bachao Samiti, Nagari Niwara Haq Samiti, Waghini Sangathan, SRA Sangharsh Samiti, Bruhanmumbai Niwara Samanvaya Samiti

Affiliates of  National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements
Contact: Madhuri Shivkar 09892143242 | Madhuri Wariyath 09820619174 | Sumit Wajale 09967875999 | Sandeep Yevale 09819307419
Previous Press Releases on this campaign :

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