Citizens protest ‘political interference’

The residents of H West ward (Khar, Bandra, Santacruz) have lodged a signature campaign, protesting against what they call “political pressure on bureaucracy”.

The residents of H West ward (Khar, Bandra, Santacruz) have lodged a signature campaign, protesting against what they call “political pressure on bureaucracy”.

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An official from the H West ward was admitted in hospital on Saturday with complaints of high blood pressure and chest pain, allegedly due to political pressure.

Aftab Siddiqui, chairperson, 33rd Road ALM, said: “We learnt that a ward official refused to heed to the demands of a few politicians to transfer hawker licences in the name of their cronies.”

“When that official refuse to do so, politicians pressurized him to an extent that he had to be admitted in hospital,” he added. “We realise that even senior officials don’t support honest officials who have tried to do their jobs. Hence, we plan to approach them too, after garnering enough support,” he said.

Independent corporator from H West, Rehbaar Khan, is also backing them.“Baba Siddiqui, the local MLA, has been wanting to clear hawkers from Linking Road and allot those licences to his political workers. This is the reason why Siddiqui was constantly pressurising him,” said Khan.

Siddiqui said, “These citizen groups have been backed by the BJP and the allegations are false. I am against any kind of regularisation made to stalls.”

H West Ward officer Manik Kshirsagar as well as Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone III) Vikram Pawar were unavailable for comment.