|
POLITICS
"Aghadi Sarkar has failed totally"
Gopal Shetty, BJP MLA
 Coming
from a poor middle class family having no political background or
support from any god father, Gopal Shetty, with honest, sincere and
hardwork, has been a shining and rising star in politics. Starting his
career in politics as a grassroot worker, became a Corporator, Deputy
Mayor in Mumbai, and then MLA from the Borivali constituency. Recently
he has been appointed as President of the BJP in Mumbai. Feeling proud
to head the BJP Mumbai, GOPAL SHETTY
spoke to THE VERDICT’S
M B RATNANNAVAR
about his plans to make BJP vibrant and also meet the aspirations of
voters. Excerpts:
South Indian
heading BJP Mumbai:
BJP always believes in nationalism and not in castes and creeds. We
work hard honestly, sincerely and if any person needed support such
people have been given support and opportunity to serve the party. I
think I am part of this and I was selected to lead BJP in Mumbai,
On migrants issue:
We don’t believe in migrants. I believe that migrants should honour
local people and should not hurt their sentiments. Local people also
should not oppose any migrant in Mumbai as they come and work hard
here. I also believe that in any state the local people should be
given priority in all government posts etc. and considering
nationality all people should get chance to work and live together.
People from other
states should win the hearts of the Bhumi putras (sons of the soil)
and friendly atmosphere should be created. If migrants celebrate the
festival of Maharashtra to boost their morale, it should not hurt
their sentiments.
On Employment
reservation to locals:
In Maharashtra, Marathi people are sons of the soil. In all the
states sons of the soil are fighting for their cause. In Maharashtra
if any Marathi leader is justifying sons of the soil and work for
their cause, I don’t think there is any harm in it. As per the state
government rules, 80 percent priority should be given to sons of the
soil. When we have accepted globalisation, naturally private sector
has entered our country, in all the states and in Mumbai too. There
will be employment opportunities and job seekers will get employed.
On Octroi:
BJP/Shiv Sena Government has already abolished Octroi in nagarpalikas
earlier. Some industries are facing hardships and this octroi removal
is a long pending demand. If the octroi is to be abolished in Mumbai,
the State government should find some ways to provide large sums to
the Municipal Corporation to make up the octroi revenue loss...
Government should also permit the corporation to generate revenue from
alternate sources.
Sena dominating BJP:
I don’t think Sena is dominating. BJP. Sena and BJP will contest the
forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections jointly. Every party wants to be
number one. We also want to be number one. In Maharashtra
we both want to be number one. I will take all the party workers into
confidence and try to win as many seats as possible.
On Cong-NCP led
Government’s performance:
The present government
has failed in all the fronts, in law and order, in controlling prices,
or in providing jobs to teenagers, and even in agriculture. Thousands
of farmers have committed suicide. This aghadi sarkar has failed
totally.”
On restructuring
BJP in Mumbai:
Definitely when new presidents take over there is
restructure in the organisation....In Mumbai also BJP will be
restructured. Consulting all the seniors and party workers earlier
presidents, all my leaders I will do my best in the interest of the
party.
On IPL cricket:
I am not happy with what is happening. When people of Maharashtra are
striving for food, people don’t get food to fill their stomach and
farmers are committing suicides, throwing crores of rupees on cricket
is not a healthy atmosphere in the sports field. I have made a
suggestion to Sharad Pawarji to build as many stadiums as possible in
Mumbai and also in Maharashtra. So the number of youngsters can enjoy
the facility and we can give good sportsmen to our country. I have
seen that some players even don’t get grounds to play cricket whereas
in the same Mumbai city, same cricketers get crores and crores of
rupees. This is not the right way to boost the morale of cricketers.
On affordable
housing to LIG and MIG people:
I have raised voice in Vidhan Sabha also on this issue. Now if a
person buys a flat, he has to pay stamp duty, conveyance charges, and
registration charges. Cost of steel and cement has gone up. Tax on
steel and cement goes to government with the result flat buyer is
suffering. If a person buys a flat at 5000 sq ft, about 35% he has to
pay i.e. around Rs.2000 to government only by way of taxes. To provide
cheaper and affordable accommodation to lower and middle income people
in Mumbai city, the government should reduce taxes. The government
has increased 33 percent FSI recently; but it is going to be charged
to builders and naturally builders will pass on this burden to the
flat buyers only. Government should see that flat buyers are not
charged on this account.
On public/private
participation on social issues:
Today Mumbai is on the global radar. So there is a need for
infrastructural development in Mumbai. It is necessary that more and
more public-private partnerships to come up to make Mumbai as a global
hub. For this I would like to meet like minded people and NGOs for
their support. Thus more and more facilities can be made available to
Mumbaikars. I have plans to give a big stadium for Borivali Dahisar
people, particularly for western suburbs a big hospital, a college and
one more auditorium. I will try to see that some of these works start
before forthcoming elections. I have requested Sharad Pawarji to
provide funds needed for a stadium for Kandivali Borivali area. I am
going to work hard on these issues and in the next 5 years all these
facilities will be made available in this area.
post your comments here |
