During a recent debate hosted by the Mumbai Press Club, Praja Foundation, and a media organisation, Lok Sabha candidates in Mumbai presented their priorities for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on May 20.

Mihir Kotecha, the BJP`s nominee for Mumbai North East, stressed the necessity of increasing tourism in the city. He advocated creating a bird park in Mulund, as well as installing cable cars and an observatory deck over the hills to boost local tourism. Kotecha also promised to handle the drug problem in places like Mankhurd and lobbied for slum restoration initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Kotecha said, “I have plans for cable cars and an observatory deck over the hills of Mulund from where the beautiful Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tulsi Lake can be viewed. Local tourism can be boosted by highlighting the importance of these green lungs of the city.”

Calling Mankhurd in Mumbai North East constituency a den of drug cartels and criminals, he said, “Local people have been affected by criminal activities and want the area to be free of drugs and crimes.” He added, “There is a need to make Mumbai slum-free. Slum dwellers are the main labour force driving Mumbai. Banks don`t fund slum rehabilitation projects. Big builders don`t want to work in slum pockets. Big hurdles are red tape and (lack of ) finance.”

Incumbent MP Arvind Sawant, running for re-election in Mumbai South, emphasised the significance of MPs as liaisons between state and federal governments. He discussed his attempts to pursue development projects for Mumbai`s east shore and lambasted the BJP government on a variety of grounds, including how it handled the Manipur situation and Mumbai`s redevelopment concerns. Sawant had claimed that the Centre was not allowing dilapidated buildings in the city to be redeveloped or give classical status to Marathi and was not renaming the Mumbai Central station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth. 

“We are lawmakers and policymakers. I have been pursuing the development of Mumbai`s east coast with the Union Shipping Ministry. The shipping minister was positive about the project after the hutment dwellers were rehabilitated,” said Sawant. He further speaking about the Manipur violence, said, “Manipur is a serious blot on Indian culture. When we raised the issue, 146 MPs were suspended and immediately 20 bills were passed. One of the bills was removing the Chief Justice of India from the committee to choose the Chief Election Commissioner.”

Taking a jab at the BJP, he said the term “Modi guarantee” exudes arrogance and added, “Hence, we say there should be a change otherwise such dictatorship will continue.”

Varsha Gaikwad, the City Congress president running for Mumbai North Central, emphasised the Dharavi redevelopment project and the need to assist citizens rather than developers. She distanced herself from controversial statements made by party members and highlighted the party`s commitment to the well-being of slum residents.

“The redevelopment (of Dharavi) should benefit the people and not the developer,” she said and addressing the controversy over Wadettiwar`s remarks, she added, “It is his personal statement and not the party`s stand.”

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