Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde has strongly criticized Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) for allegedly neglecting the "Marathi manoos" (Marathi-speaking people) during its governance of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Shinde accused Shiv Sena (UBT) of only raising the "Marathi manoos" issue for political gains as elections approach.
Shinde's criticism came after a meeting held at Mantralaya to address the situation of 65 unauthorized buildings in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area. Thousands of families residing in these buildings face potential eviction following a court order for their demolition. Shinde stated that these residents were deceived by developers. He has been actively seeking relief for these residents and exploring legal avenues to protect their housing rights.
During the meeting, which included key officials such as Urban Development Principal Secretary Asim Gupta, Thane Collector Dr. Shrikrishna Panchal, and KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal, Shinde proposed a solution to ease the transfer of land ownership to the affected residents. He suggested that the residents form housing societies and complete the necessary legal processes. Shinde acknowledged existing "technical difficulties" in registering these societies and updating property records and urged for these procedures to be expedited. He also advocated for quicker and stricter action against the culpable developers.
Furthermore, Shinde has instructed the state urban development department, the Thane Collectorate, and KDMC to prepare a joint proposal to be presented at the next cabinet meeting. He has also called for the KDMC to file a case with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to investigate the 65 illegal buildings, emphasizing the need to uncover the masterminds behind the scam. Shinde highlighted that these individuals used front men to conceal their involvement and urged officials to identify those who truly benefited from the sale of flats in these illegal structures.
Shinde claimed that the current Mahayuti government has been actively working to secure housing rights for Marathi residents. He stated that the opposition only remembers the "Marathi manoos" issue when elections are near, accusing them of neglecting the community during their time in power in the BMC. He said that Marathi families spent 10 to 15 years in transit camps without any serious effort to provide them with permanent homes.
In February 2025, residents facing eviction sought assistance from Shrikant Shinde, expressing their distress over the possibility of becoming homeless. KDMC officials had stated that the High Court issued a demolition order on November 19, 2024, prompting eviction notices. Shinde assured the residents that he would not allow them to become homeless and promised to appoint a legal team to represent them in court. He also stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are committed to supporting the affected homeowners and finding a solution.
