FORUM FOR JUSTICE
TEL.25004978 / 22855159 (ANTI CORRUPTION DRIVE) REGN. NO. F-19491 (MUM.)7, KAUSTUBH-DHAM CO-OP. HSG. SOCY., LTD., 23, SANGHANI ESTATE, GAMDEVI ROAD, GHATKOPAR (W), MUMBAI-86. Email : forumforjustice@yahoo.com 09819762677
Date: 18th January 2007.
Ms. Soniya Rajiv Gandhi – All India Prersident
Indian National Congress,
10,Janpath, New Delhi.
Sub.: Time demands absolute majority to Congress Party on Municipal
Corporation level, the stepping stone, in the interest of survival of
Democratic functioning in political system of India.
Respected Soniyaji,
It is on record the role-played by me, as practicing Architect and Town planner since early sixties, in formation of SHIV SENA and installing Shri. Bal K. Thackeray as its chief –the SENAPATI, in 1966. My selfless devotion with self imposed decision of not to contest any of the elections and make the organization a force to reckon with for all political parties then on the sensitive issue catching up in Mumbai in particular and Maharashtra in general, as directing voice of Marathi ethos and Mrathi speaking population of Mumbai in particular and Maharashtra in general.
In the early days of Shiv Sena we had been supporting candidates of high integrity of different political parties like late S.G.Barve and after the sad demise of Shri. S.G. Barve his sister late Smt. Tarabai Sapre both of congress party then led by S.K.Patil as B.P.C.C. President where in I was the in charge of election campaign of both the above mentioned congress candidates from Shiv Sena side and both had got elected because of devoted efforts of Shiv Sena workers under my leadership.
On the issue of sons of the soil of linguistic state of Mahatashtra with Mumbai its capital, the political parties in India and their leader ship, for interest involved in Mumbai the Commercial and financial capital of India, could not understands the gravity of the issue of son of the soil and the started antagonizing Shiv Sena which gave rise to the necessity and the theory of contesting elections at different levels such as Municipal Corporation, Assembly, Parliament and last but not the least Gram Panchayat levels. Indifference shown and the injustice done to the legitimate right of just demand of preference and higher percentage in opportunities and benefit of achievements of the linguistic State to local linguistic population on the part of political parties, the Marathi masses gave directive to Shiv sena to fight / contest elections at all levels instead of supporting candidates of different political parties.
Once an organization formed for limited cause start broadening its base, it starts compromising with its main aims and objects as a part of vote and vote bank politics. It happened with leadership of Shiv Sena and issue of son of the soil went at backside. Realizing the danger of further loss to Shiv Sena, I took the firm stand of not to get dragged behind other political parties in Mumbai whose following in Mumbai was negligible as compared to Shiv Sena, and oppose the move of welcoming late Mrs. Indira Gandhi then Prime minister by showing black flags, along with other political parties, on her rout from Air port to Raj Bhavan.
In discussions with Mr. Ayub Saiyed Editor Current News paper, in his office in Fort Mumbai, I express to him, as my strategy to pears-wed Shri. Bal Tkackeray from joining agitation of showing black flags, that if Mrs. Indira Gandhi is ready to halt on her way to Raj Bhavan, near Kala Nagar junction at High Way and garland Shivaji bust statue in a covered pendol and give interview to Shri. Bal Thackeray at Raj Bhavan, then in that case Shiv Sena will withdraw from black flag agitation. Mr.Ayub Saiyed liked the idea and contacted Prime minister’s office next day. He was trying to contact me on 452115 from Prime minister’s office Delhi on my then residence at Dadar (w), Mumbai.
Due to some problem in getting through the line, the message was sent to me through Shri. Sethana Atomic Energy Chairman Mumbai, to contact Prime minister’s office urgently. Accordingly I contacted Delhi and the garlanding of Shivaji statue and interview to Bal Tkackeray at Raj Bhavan was confirmed and Shiv Sena withdrew from blackflag agitation on the day of visit of Mrs. Gandhi.
At my instance in the year 1975, Shri. Ramrao Adik’s candidature was supported by Shiv Sena. Mrs. Roza Deshpande C.P.I.Candidate was his opponent. Shiv Sena workers were working very sincerely for shri. Ramrao Adik and as apart of realization of hard work put in election propaganda by Shiv Sainik, Shri. Vasantrao Mengde the then B.P.C.C. Secretary under the directives of the B.P.C.C. President and my good friend Shri. Rajni Patel, came to my professional office (DESHPANDE & PRADHAN ARCHITECTS and CONSULTANTS) Fort, Mumbai with initial six figure amount for election expenditure for Shiv Sena workers working day and night. In those days working for Shiv Sena for monetary gains was not the culture under my decision making leadership in Shiv Sena as such I refused the monetary assistance offered. It was a great shock to Shri. Rajni Patel and was impress by my integrity. Shri. Rajni Patel narrated the incidence of refusing money on my part to late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi, who expressed her surprise by saying that such selfless element less in percentage, is instrumental in maximum things to happen through many odd situations. I consider it as compliments to me.
Common family friend late Dr. Sundaram who, as you may be aware, was a man of confidence out side political arena, of first Prime minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was knowing my contribution and devoted efforts in building up of SHIV SENA by using my knowledge of Town planning and Architecture since 1965 and installing Shri. Bal K.Thackeray as its SENAPATI. After my withdrawal from leadership of Shiv Sena in 1980, as a matter of devotion to cause of Marathi Ethos I was reluctant to join any political part but Dr. Sundaram was continuously after me to join Mrs.Indira Gandhi’s party and used to assure me that Madam will happy to welcome me in Congress party. Ultimately in 1984 I gave consent to Dr. Sundaram to go ahead and express my willingness to join congress at Maharashtra level in the capacity of decision maker.
. In addition to the truthful information about me had with Mrs.Indira Gandhi, she asked then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Late Shri. Vasantdada Patil to collect information about me and give it to her at Raj Bhavan, when she was to be in Mumbai some where in the month of May1984. Accordingly she was in Mumbai and her arrival was informed to me, with the knowledge of Shri.Rajiv Gandhi, by then General Secretary. Shri. Mupnar.
On the said visit of Mrs. Indira Gandhi in the month of May 1984, the file containing information about me was not prepared by then Chief Minister Lte Shri Vasant dada Patil for the reasons best known to him, though he knew me since 1965. I was informed by Dr. Sundaram on the instance then Prime minister that my meeting with her was postponed to her next visit to Mumbai in the Month of Sept. /Oct. 1984.
Unfortunately the said month never came up in her life as Mrs.Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31st July 1984 and my entry in congress, in the interest of Maharashtra and Marathi ethos, never took place due to political undercurrents in congress party then.
In present political mess-up; in the tersest of survival of democratic functioning of political system in India and in political parties, it has become duty and responsibility of every citizen of India, politically, socially aware or other wise, to come forward stand behind the major political force (party) and give political strength with absolute majority which was given in Dec, 1984 parliament elections to Shri. Rajiv Gandhi after brutal assassination of Mrs.Indira Gabndhi.
Today we feel election fever of Municipal Corporation elections in Mumbai in particular and all over Maharashtra in general, the electoral level day to day social needs and problems are tackled. In present political and social scenario and monetary freedom given to local self-government bodies in India, the fate of members to State level Assemblies and Parliament at national level is decided on the performance on Municipal Corporation level and in rural areas on zilha parishad (Z.P.) level elections.
For healthy democracy it is equally necessary to have healthy opposition. What w see today is the mockery of democracy in the hands of number of political parties playing with the religious sentiments of people and other small groups elected representatives crest terror and try to strike deal for power. Now is the time when major political party in congress should get absolute majority and this situation will open the eyes of other political parties and in future people will get the pleasure of being ruled by two major parties with substantial strength of elected representatives either to rule or to play the role of opposition effectively in the interest of citizens of the city.
In Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra, administered by Municipal corporations, the challenge before Congress is of Shiv Sena B.J.P. and Rashtrawadi Congress. In such situation I humbly can say that my active role in propaganda by addressing rallies in different Municipal Corporation territories in Maharashtra, I am confident, will make Shiv Sena, B.J.P.and Rashtrawadi Congress ineffective and the truth spelled out by me will demoralize them to come out for election propaganda including Bal Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.
I had given this offer of coming out in favor of Congress in last Parliament and Assembly elections in Maharashtra by contacting Shri. Gurudas Kamat and Shri. Vilasrao Deshmukh (C.M.) number of times on my own in the interest of survival of effective democratic set up at all levels, but for the reason best known to themselves they avoided me all the times.
The above-mentioned attitude of present leadership of Maharashtra and that of leaders in sixties like S.K.PATIL has vast difference. In those days when Shiv Sena under my leadership had offered support to Congress candidates in Mumbai and when some element in Congress made hue and cry over the support, Shri. S.K.PATIL told that he was out to win the elections and would welcome support in favor of the candidates from all the corners and voters irrespective of status.
In the light of what I have stated above and want offer my participation in propaganda of forth coming elections in the interest to over come threat to democratic set up and preservation of Marathi Ethos in linguistic state of Maharashtra. As an Architect and Town planner I believe that in a multi storied building with FORTY TENEMENTS there can cordial relations with neighbors and they may be coming to rescue one another in difficult time and even helping monitorial and or loaning and sharing commodities with each other as also sharing maintenance repairs coloring etc. with harmonious relations with each other. If some of the members understand this good gesture as their right over neighbor and in early fine morning demolish the common wall dividing two tenements and start using neighbor’s Bed room, Kitchen, Living room toilet etc., as their constitutional right or go one step further and keeping all external walls intact and remove all the internal walls of eight to ten tenements per floor of all floor as every member is part of and equal owner of one Co-operative Housing Society. It is needless to say that this flowing so called unity flowing on complete floor and thereafter on all the floors with keeping external walls intact is ridiculous. If the multifarious Indian multi linguistic States and culture is no protected and from right to encroach up on neighbor, the state of affairs of India will go the lines chaos that would take place in above mention Co-operative Society’s building with forty members with families in forty tenements.
Waiting for your reply and personal interview in public interest.
With regards,
(Madhav G. Deshpande) President
FORUM FOR JUSTICE
SHIV SENA FOUNDER
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