Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday, 3 July, in a series of tweets urged the newly formed Eknath Shinde government to reverse its decision to take the Mumbai metro car shed back to Aarey Colony – scrapping the previous government's decision to relocate it to Kanjurmarg village.
He said, "Don’t cast the hate for us, on to our beloved Mumbai."
Residents and environmentalists came out on the streets in protest against the government's decision.
The MLA tweeted, “Since I have to attend the sitting of the State Legislative Assembly today, I will be missing out on the protest for Aarey Forest and the MMRCL land. I humbly urge new Govt to reconsider its decision.”
Noting that the motive to protest Aarey forest “isn’t only about 2700+ trees,” Aaditya Thackeray said that it is biodiversity that is to be protected.
"While the carshed work was given a stay by the then CM, Uddhav Thackeray ji, the work on the Line 3 was fully supported to be carried on," he said, and added that the alternative location in Kanjurmarg which is disputed by the Centre will "fit in depots for metro lines 3,4,6,14 into 1 space, thus saving on cost & time."
'This is About Mumbai's Development'
The former minister asserted that his suggestions are about sustainable development and improved planning.
“This is about Mumbai’s development and we staying here instead of being handed over a badly planned project that destroys our Mumbai’s Aarey Forest,” he said.
'Shocking': Raj Thackeray's Son
Amit Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, also expressed his displeasure at the government's decision to build the metro car shed.
"The decision of the new government to make the metro car shed in Aarey forest is shocking for many environmentalists like me," Amit wrote in his post.
He said that hundreds of young people had struggled to avoid a car shed in Aarey and requested the Chief Minister and the new Deputy Chief Minister to reconsider their decision.
"We want development, but not at the expense of the environment," he added.
"If our environment is destroyed, there will be no human being left to do politics in the future, all political leaders should be aware of this," Amit wrote.
'Unable to Look Us in the Eye': Aaditya Hits out at Rebel MLAs
Meanwhile, talking to reporters outside the State Legislative Assembly, Aaditya Thackeray said, "The rebel MLAs (Eknath Shinde faction), who came today, were unable to look us in the eye. How long are you going to move from one hotel to the other? These MLAs will have to go to their Assembly constituencies one day. How will they face the people then?" as reported by ANI.
This was after his speech in the Assembly during which he said, "I want to say what we had said in the ears of Devendra Fadnavis for 2.5 years (for CM). If he had agreed to that, this situation would not have arrived and most probably it would have changed too."
(With inputs from ANI)
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