Shabana-Javed to stage morcha against BMC

[ganpat1956]

After fighting for several socially relevant causes, actor Shabana Azmi is now launching a personal battle of her own. Today, the firebrand and her husband lyricist/script-writer Javed Akhtar will lead a star-studded morcha against the BMC at Juhu beach.

The couple are angry with municipal officials for not taking action against an illegal construction coming up on the beach, blocking the neighbourhood’s view.

Says Javed, “Some of the residents had lodged a complaint through their lawyer to the concerned authorities back in January. But yet, there has been no response at all.

This construction is not only illegal, but it is also a total violation as it is being built right on the beach. We are planning a peace protest on the beach next to the construction till the concerned authorities take some kind of action. We cannot continue allowing such things to happen. As citizens, we have to continue fighting for our rights.”

Author Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi, who is fighting his own battle with the BMC for allegedly allowing his new neighbour film-maker Vashu Bhagnani to violate rules and make illegal use of the space allotted to him, supports the cause.

He says, “Is the BMC capitalism’s call girl? Any builder prepared to pay money can get any plan passed – often disregarding the BMC’s own regulations. Every official in the BMC should be personally accountable for any building plans passed – a RTI (right to information) might be one way for citizens to gain access to this information, so that the official is then liable for what they sanction. Their jobs have to be on the line otherwise they just don’t care.”

DNA - After Hrs - Shabana-Javed to stage morcha against BMC - Daily News & Analysis