Despite BMC order, city BJP leaders welcome chief with boards, placards
Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has banned all banners, boards and posters of political nature temporarily, boards were spotted in the city on Tuesday on the occasion of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Rajnath Singh’s visit.
Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has banned all banners, boards and posters of political nature temporarily, boards were spotted in the city on Tuesday on the occasion of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Rajnath Singh’s visit.
The stretch on the Western Express Highway beginning from the airport saw huge boards placed at the roadside with large photographs of Singh.
Though the high court has instructed the BMC, in its March 13 order, to initiate action against political leaders whose names and photos appear on illegal banners, the civic body claimed that it could not take such action against Singh, as these boards were neither erected nor pasted.
The boards were placed alongside the road only till the convoy of Singh’s vehicles passed the stretch and were removed soon after. “We had taken enough measures and officials from respective wards had been instructed to ensure that no banners are put up. But, people only held placards for some time, which were later removed,” said Rajendra Bhosale, deputy municipal commissioner (special).
Bhosale added that there are no licences required to hold placards or flags in the city.
Political parties, however, seemed to have found a loophole in the system. “We have clearly not violated any law. Anybody can stand on the road with a placard and it was only for a few minutes till the car passed. It is similar to a poster being pasted on a parked car. It is not illegal,” said a senior BJP leader.
Rajnath urges leaders to gear up for polls
HT Correspondent
htmetro@hindustantimes.com
Mumbai:
Bharatiya Janata Party national head Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday, asked party MLAs and MPs from the state to be prepared for the general elections that could be held by November or December, owing to the internal crisis of the UPA government.
Singh, who is on a two-day tour of drought-hit Marathwada region, held a brief meeting with the BJP MLAs and MPs in the city. Singh said that party members should also gear up for the Assembly elections in Maharashtra.
Slamming the state government for poor handling of drought, he said, “The hardship faced by the people in drought-hit areas is beyond imagination. The government has been insensitive towards people and has failed in providing adequate resources for their livelihood.”
Singh also demanded waiver for debts-ridden farmers in drought-hit districts. “The BJP-led state governments have been providing zero interest debt to farmers in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The state government, too, should waive off the loans of farmers in drought-hit areas,” he said.
Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has banned all banners, boards and posters of political nature temporarily, boards were spotted in the city on Tuesday on the occasion of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Rajnath Singh’s visit.