Today is the last day of campaigning in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Politics are hot in the state regarding the Dharavi project. After Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, now Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made a big statement on Adani Group’s Dharavi redevelopment project. Rahul linked this project with the BJP’s slogan “If we are together, we are safe” and attacked it.
When Aaj Tak correspondent Sahil Joshi asked Rahul Gandhi that if the Mahavikas Aghadi government comes to power in Maharashtra, will the Dharavi project tender be cancelled? On this, Rahul Gandhi said that he supports Uddhav Thackeray’s announcement on Dharavi. A day earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had said that if the MVA government comes to power, he would end the bidding for the Dharavi project in the first cabinet meeting.
Do you know what question was asked to Rahul about the Dharavi project?
Uddhav Thackeray announced at the MVA rally that when his government comes, the first decision will be taken regarding the Dharavi project. He will cancel Gautam Adani Group’s bid in the first cabinet. Do Congress and the UBT agree on this?
Rahul Gandhi said: It is a simple thing. The coming government will protect the rights of the people of Maharashtra. What is happening in Dharavi goes against the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra. This project is against the interests of the citizens of Mumbai. We will protect the interests of the citizens of Maharashtra, Mumbai and Dharavi. That’s why we are united. What Uddhav ji said is correct and I support him.
What did Uddhav say about the Dharavi project?
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is a frequent attacker of the Dharavi redevelopment project linked to the Adani Group. He also said in an interview to Aaj Tak that why should I support Adani? He had said that if Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comes to power, the tender given to Adani for the Dharavi redevelopment project will be cancelled. Even during my previous tenure, the Adani tender was cancelled. Because your investor (especially in the case of a Dubai-based company) did not show up. They all agreed it would be difficult and decided it wouldn’t work. He went to court. After the departure of our government (July 2022), the tender was launched again. The MVA government fell in June of the same year.
Uddhav said Dharavi is spread over about 500 acres. About 4.50 people live here. He wants to evict more than half of these people by making them ineligible. Adani Group has acquired around 1,000 acres of land in Mumbai, including salt land, Dahisar and Mulund toll, Kurla Mother Dairy, etc. Thackeray mentioned that the salt flat land was never allotted to anyone. He said Dharavi needs to be redeveloped. After coming to power, we will cancel the tender given to Adani and the people of Dharavi will be given houses in the same area where they live and their businesses will also be given to them.
In fact, the Maharashtra government had awarded the redevelopment contract to Adani Realty under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in 2022. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 20,000 crore.
We will break 50 per cent limit on reservations: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday promised to remove the 50 per cent limit on reservations and conduct a caste census in the country. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Rahul said that the caste census is the most important issue before us and we will complete it. The Maharashtra assembly elections were described as a battle of ideologies and a fight between some billionaires and the poor.
The Congress leader said projects worth Rs 7 lakh crore, including those of Foxconn and Airbus, were transferred from Maharashtra to Gujarat. Due to this, the youth of Maharashtra lost their jobs. The Maha Vikas Aghadi government will protect the interests of the people of Maharashtra. The entire political machinery was mobilized to help one person in the Dharavi redevelopment scheme in Mumbai.
Rahul further said that Dharavi redevelopment is unfair and is being done only to benefit one person. We are not sure how the tenders will be awarded. All the ports, airports and wealth of India are being handed over to one person.
