Medha Patkar's new agenda - Adarsh demolition

Mumbai, Feb 9: The Mumbai based social activist Medha Patkar always raises voice for the needs of the poor and against wrong doings. Patkar, who gets nation-wide significance over her Narmada Bachaon Andolan (Save Narmada protest), now voiced for the "original inhabitants of Mumbai" - slum dwellers.

Calling Mumbai's Adarsh Housing "a symbol of paradigm of development," Patkar now demanded demolition of the 31-storey "illegal" Adarsh building. Following the protest, she with some other activists were detained for some time on Feb 8.

Showing protest against the government, Patkar stated, "They don't have the courage to demolish it. We seek its demolition. We brought this entire matter to their notice."

Accompanied by several slum dwellers, Patkar raised voice against the recent slum demolition at Mumbai's Ganesh Krupa Society in the Golibar area of Santacruz (East).

Patkar claimed, "On one hand, the authorities are quick to render us homeless and on the other, here is a building constructed in blatant violation of rules. We are going to stay here till we are given justice."

Telecom company Unitech, which currently confronted with investigation over 2G spectrum scam, faced the rage of Patkar over the company's involvement in the slum demolition issue.

Patkar accused Unitech for its almost 50 percent investment in a company, Shivalik Ventures which is involved in many slum redevelopment projects, of using malpractices to grab the land from the poor.

"Slum-dwellers are the original inhabitants of the city," claimed Patkar and demanded for the demolition of "a symbol of corruption in the Indian governance system" - Adarsh Housing building.

OneIndia News