From: [email protected]
To:
http://www.mid-day.com/articles/its-poonam-mahajan-vs-shah-rukh-khan-in-bandra/15959189
Acting on complaints by locals, the BJP MP has written to the BMC chief, asking
him to demolish the ramp next to the superstar’s bungalow Mannat, where he
parks his vanity van; over the years, the ramp and the adjoining road have
often been in the eye of a storm
People power may well trump star power in this battle. Bandra residents’ fight
to reclaim a stretch of road which has allegedly been encroached upon by a ramp
constructed by actor Shah Rukh Khan has got an important leg up in the form of
support from local MP Poonam Mahajan, who has written a letter to the BMC on
the issue.Also read: Cops barricade road to Bandra Fair so that Shah Rukh Khan
is not disturbed Shah Rukh Khan and Poonam MahajanAccording to local residents,
this is the first time that a member of parliament who represents Bandra (which
is a part of the Mumbai North Central parliamentary constituency) has written a
letter about the cement ramp next to Mannat, which is often used by Khan to
park his vanity van.This cement ramp next to the star’s bungalow, Mannat, is
often used to park his vanity van. Pics/Pradeep DhivarMahajan wrote to
Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte on January 29 and asked him to get the
illegal cement ramp demolished. She, however, mentioned an illegal ramp
constructed by a bungalow owner in Bandra and refrained from taking the names
of Khan or Mannat.The ramp next to MannatResidents say the ramp prevents them
from using a portion of an important thoroughfare and blocks the way to the
stairs that lead to Mount Mary Church from Bandstand. It becomes especially
important during the Bandra fair, which is held every year in the month of
September.Also read: One year later, cops stop pilgrims again at Mannat BJP MP
Poonam Mahajan and Shah Rukh KhanHope bolsteredThey say that they have been
running from pillar to post to get the ramp removed, but to no avail and they
are hoping that things change with Mahajan getting involved. Advocate Shane
Cardoz, a resident who has been fighting against the ramp, said, “A few
residents had met Poonam regarding the matter, and she wrote a letter to the
BMC.With her involvement in the case, we are expecting that things will move
faster. The change in the government has also bolstered our hopes. The ramp
becomes an issue, especially during the Bandra fair, when people are stopped
from using the road. It is a public road, why should people be stopped from
using it?”He added, “In the last few months, we could get many slums demolished
because the political interference is decreasing. Things are changing and the
people of Bandra want to use the road as it belongs to the government.”'People
above all'When mid-day spoke to Mahajan, she said she wrote the letter after
the residents met her and showed her documents that proved that the road
belongs to the government and should be handed over to the public for use. “The
roads in Bandra are narrow as it is, and no individual or organisation is above
the people.Also read: BMC to conduct inquiry into closed road next to SRK's
bungalowThe road belongs to the government and should be given to the public. I
had promised the residents that I would try to resolve whatever problem they
have. Justice should be done irrespective of who the person on the other side
is.” Mahajan said that she didn’t take any names in the letter because she
didn’t feel like dragging in any individual.“I have written to the commissioner
and will follow up with him. My only issue is that the road, which is meant for
the people, should be used by them. During the Bandra fair, the path is used a
lot and the ramp leads to chaos. The issue needs to be sorted out,” she
said.Prakkash G Rohiira, a realtor who uses the road often, said, “This is not
the first time that public property has been modified for personal convenience
but, knowing Shah Rukh, we feel he will understand the people’s troubles and
sort this issue out.”A source close to Shah Rukh Khan said that the road
belongs to the actor and has not been taken over by the BMC yet. “We are ready
to give the road, but the BMC hasn’t yet taken it. Until the BMC takes it over,
it is our property.” Neither Khan nor Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte
responded to our calls and messages.Court caseIn September, activist Nicholas
Almeida had moved a local court in Bandra seeking to file a nuisance lawsuit
against Shah Rukh Khan for “illegally” constructing the ramp adjoining his
residence. Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte and three of his subordinates
had also been made respondents.“The said illegal ramp constructed by Khan is an
important thoroughfare, especially during the Bandra fair, which is being held
every year in the month of September since the last three centuries,” the
complainant had said in his plea.
