Mumbai’s poor demand land, housing rights

Government of Maharashtra on Monday also failed to respond to the rightful demands of housing of thousands of urban poor and lower middle class working people of Mumbai. *Anshan of 30 representatives from various slums continues, so does the sit-in by thousands at Azad Maidan.  Azad Maidan was packed with more than  8,000 people* demanding their right to dignified housing and right to land.Even as government refuses to address the issues, more and more people are joining the dharna everyday and mood remained upbeat and slogans of we shall fight, we shall win continued to reverberate.

In spite of Azad Maidan being so near to Mantralaya, no official or representative of Government has come even once to have a dialogue with people or to receive the memos prepared by citizens of Mumbai who have every right to demand answers to questions that concern their lives. *This raises some serious doubts about Government’s intentions to consider the problems and hardships faced by the majority of the citizens of Mumbai.

A delegation also went and briefed the State Human Rights Commission on the prevailing situation in the bastis where basic human rights are being violated everyday due to illegal demolitions, evictions and land grab by powerful builders.  A similar complaint was also lodged with the National human Rights Commission.

The Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, on its 7th day*, showed solidarity and extended its support to the protest rally of Jain community of Mumbai, here at Azad Maidan, to condemn the recent attacks on Jain Temples and saints*.

GBGB strongly believes in non-violence and has taken up the path of Satyagrah to demand the rights of the people.

Support to the struggle continued to pour in from all over the country. *Shri Ramdas Athavale of RPI, Smt. Ruksana Siddqui of Samajwadi Party c*ame to Azad Maidan and supported the demands of implementation of Rajeev Awas Yojana and investigation into massive corruption by the builders which hasled to serious deprivation and violation of rights of thousands. Many other senior activists also came to strengthen the Andolan and lent their voices

of solidarity.

People are determined to continue and even intensify the struggle until the demands are fulfilled.