WAR OF WORDS AT BANDRA MEETING
THE ASIAN AGE(APR 2004)
By Skimmy Gupta
The candidates for the important parliamentary seat of North West Mumbai faced a barrage of questions by the people. ‘Meet your Candidate’ electoral meeting was coordinated by AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in India) on Saturday evening at St. Joseph’s Convent, Bandra.The meeting was aimed for three candidates standing from the North West constituency: Sanjay Nirupam (Shiv Sena), Satyadev Dubey (Independent) and Sunil Dutt (Congress) to interact with local public and voters. About 300- 350 residents from Andheri to Bandra attended the meet.
The candidates were grilled to embarrassment so much so that Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam had to repeatedly apologize for vandalism acts of Singhania hospital in Thane, city library and other institutions by his party workers. Local MLA Baba Siddique representing Congress candidate Sunil Dutt was keener on provoking the opponent rather than answering questions with conviction and authenticity. Even senior citizens raised some crucial civic problems in their respective areas with lot of rage and despair. Though both the candidates diplomatically kept on blaming each other but the visible fireworks coupled with threats by Baba Siddique to walk out was the highlight of the meeting.
Gerson D.Cunha convenor of AGNI and Baba Siddique also attacked each other in cold war. A meeting meant for interaction between candidates and public turned into petty blame game on each other. As usual general public was left in lurch by false promises by these candidates. The public bombarded the politicians with a barrage of questions ranging from encroachments, water problem, sewerage, subways, flyovers, attendance of MPs in parliament to vandalism on hospitals and cricket pitches by Sena workers.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam also apologized by folding his hands for various acts of vandalism by Shiv Sena activists in the city .He said, “I promise to solve people’s civic problems if elected.”But he also raised the question of Sunil Dutt not attending parliament for his ill health as he said “But how could he shoot for the movie Munnabhai MBBS?”
Local MLA Baba Siddique kept on harping the construction of joggers parks and helping various housing associations in the suburbs under guidance of Sunil Dutt. He focused on the work he had done rather than Sunil Dutt. But when asked to show Dutt’s use of the MP fund, Siddiqui started talking instead of funds used by Dutt from the Nargis Dutt Foundation.
Shyama Kulkarni, trustee, H West Ward Citizens Trust who also coordinated with AGNI for this meeting said “The candidates must take back all the emotions of the people during this meeting. They must think to solve people’s problems to have a potential chance of winning from this constituency. Althoguh the meeting was quite volatile; it highlighted common man’s expectations from their candidates. Also they have full right to demand the use of MP funds for area development
Independent candidate Satyadev Dubey said “I am only concerned about slum areas of Behrampada as they live in pathetic conditions. I will donate all MP funds to that area only.”But he was shocked when a person in audience remarked “There is no one from Behramapada and you want to waste all funds on one area only.”This resulted in laughter for audience and embarrassment for Dubey.
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By Skimmy Gupta
The candidates for the important parliamentary seat of North West Mumbai faced a barrage of questions by the people. ‘Meet your Candidate’ electoral meeting was coordinated by AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in India) on Saturday evening at St. Joseph’s Convent, Bandra.The meeting was aimed for three candidates standing from the North West constituency: Sanjay Nirupam (Shiv Sena), Satyadev Dubey (Independent) and Sunil Dutt (Congress) to interact with local public and voters. About 300- 350 residents from Andheri to Bandra attended the meet.
The candidates were grilled to embarrassment so much so that Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam had to repeatedly apologize for vandalism acts of Singhania hospital in Thane, city library and other institutions by his party workers. Local MLA Baba Siddique representing Congress candidate Sunil Dutt was keener on provoking the opponent rather than answering questions with conviction and authenticity. Even senior citizens raised some crucial civic problems in their respective areas with lot of rage and despair. Though both the candidates diplomatically kept on blaming each other but the visible fireworks coupled with threats by Baba Siddique to walk out was the highlight of the meeting.
Gerson D.Cunha convenor of AGNI and Baba Siddique also attacked each other in cold war. A meeting meant for interaction between candidates and public turned into petty blame game on each other. As usual general public was left in lurch by false promises by these candidates. The public bombarded the politicians with a barrage of questions ranging from encroachments, water problem, sewerage, subways, flyovers, attendance of MPs in parliament to vandalism on hospitals and cricket pitches by Sena workers.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam also apologized by folding his hands for various acts of vandalism by Shiv Sena activists in the city .He said, “I promise to solve people’s civic problems if elected.”But he also raised the question of Sunil Dutt not attending parliament for his ill health as he said “But how could he shoot for the movie Munnabhai MBBS?”
Local MLA Baba Siddique kept on harping the construction of joggers parks and helping various housing associations in the suburbs under guidance of Sunil Dutt. He focused on the work he had done rather than Sunil Dutt. But when asked to show Dutt’s use of the MP fund, Siddiqui started talking instead of funds used by Dutt from the Nargis Dutt Foundation.
Shyama Kulkarni, trustee, H West Ward Citizens Trust who also coordinated with AGNI for this meeting said “The candidates must take back all the emotions of the people during this meeting. They must think to solve people’s problems to have a potential chance of winning from this constituency. Althoguh the meeting was quite volatile; it highlighted common man’s expectations from their candidates. Also they have full right to demand the use of MP funds for area development
Independent candidate Satyadev Dubey said “I am only concerned about slum areas of Behrampada as they live in pathetic conditions. I will donate all MP funds to that area only.”But he was shocked when a person in audience remarked “There is no one from Behramapada and you want to waste all funds on one area only.”This resulted in laughter for audience and embarrassment for Dubey.
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Labels: Politics
posted by Skimmy @ June 14, 2008
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