Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the BJP led Mahayuti government will identify and deport what he called “Bangladeshi infiltrators” from Mumbai and ensure that the country’s financial capital gets a mayor who is both Marathi and Hindu.
Addressing the first joint rally of the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance ahead of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, Fadnavis said the civic polls would decide the future direction of Mumbai.
“We will identify Bangladeshi infiltrators in Mumbai and send them back. This will make the city safer. In the last seven months itself, many Bangladeshis have been sent back and we will continue this until all infiltrators are deported,” he said.
Referring to the mayor’s post, Fadnavis said he and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were clear about their stand. “Mumbai’s mayor will be a Marathi and a Hindu. Some people spoke about a burqa clad woman becoming mayor, but those who claim to stand for Marathi pride did not object. We are very clear that Mumbai’s mayor will be a Marathi Hindu,” he said.
His remarks come amid a political row after Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam said his party would not allow any “Khan” to become mayor, drawing criticism from the Shiv Sena UBT and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. MNS chief Raj Thackeray had also said that Mumbai’s mayor would be Marathi.
Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government would soon announce a Rs 17,000 crore environmental budget for Mumbai to make it the most environmentally sustainable city in India. “We are preparing a special environment budget for Mumbai and details will be announced soon,” he said.
Calling the January 15 election date significant, the chief minister said it falls during the Uttarayan period, which symbolises progress and new beginnings. “The BMC election is about changing Mumbai’s image and its future. January 16 is the coronation anniversary of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and it should mark Mumbai being won by the Mahayuti,” he said.
Elections to 29 civic bodies including the BMC will be held on January 15 and counting will take place on January 16. The BMC has 227 wards.
Taking a dig at opposition parties, Fadnavis said voters were used to hearing big promises before elections. “We do not believe in making unrealistic announcements. We believe in delivering what we promise,” he said, referring to opposition assurances like free electricity and tax waivers.
Responding to allegations that the BJP wants to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, he said, “I checked while coming back whether Mumbai was separated from Maharashtra. It is still here and will remain here. Some people lose their balance when elections are near.”
Fadnavis said Mumbai belongs to Maharashtra and no one can detach it. “This election is about development. Mumbaikars are aware and they want progress,” he said.
He also criticised previous administrations for forcing thousands of mill workers to leave the city. “What is the use of Rs 70,000 crore lying in fixed deposits if Marathi people had to leave Mumbai out of helplessness,” he asked.
Highlighting redevelopment work, he said families living in BDD chawls in Worli were given 500 square foot homes instead of 100 square foot houses at no extra cost, benefiting around 80,000 people. “This is the model we want to follow. Every Mumbaikar living in the city will have a home here. Slum dwellers too will get good quality housing,” he said.
The chief minister also spoke about infrastructure projects, saying a 450 kilometre Metro network is being built across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with 150 kilometres already operational. “We are adding 50 to 100 kilometres of Metro lines every year so people can travel across the region in under an hour,” Fadnavis said.
