Fadnavis on Mumbai slum demolitions: ‘Cycle of people encroaching and govt giving homes can’t go on forever’

Clara.LewisMumbai: Defending the ongoing slum demolition drive in the city, CM Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that the cycle of people encroaching and govt providing homes cannot go on forever.Responding to a question on slumdwellers being evicted without implementation of the Centre’s flagship Housing for All scheme, Fadnavis said that in Mumbai, the largest number of slumdwellers have been given ownership homes in the last 10 years, and the govt will continue to do so. However, he said, the court has put certain conditions on the govt that only those eligible are to be given homes and those ineligible should be removed.“These are orders of the court. This cycle cannot continue forever, people will encroach and we will give homes, so the courts have given a deadline, which has been extended. Now those beyond this date, without orders of the court or permission, cannot be given homes and more importantly, at some places specifically ,the court has ordered time-bound action and that is being done,” Fadnavis said while addressing a press conference.

Asked about the impact on Maharashtra of foreign investors withdrawing investments, Fadnavis said, “Today if we see, it is true that to some extent FIIs have withdrawn money from the stock market. Where is this money going? It is going into data centres, and the maximum number of data centre commitments have come to India. Data centre commitments to the tune of US $40 bn are at various stages, and Maharashtra has received 55% of these commitments.

Some have been given land, in some cases the process is on, and in some cases construction is underway.

So more than the money being withdrawn, the money being invested is much more.”Speaking about the MLC elections, Fadnavis said the differences between BJP and Shiv Sena had been smoothened out, and there is now peace in Nashik. “The BJP and Shiv Sena will together ensure we win the Nashik and Jalgaon seats,” he said.On PM Modi’s record as the longest-serving elected PM, Fadnavis said there was no attempt at comparison between the first PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Modi.

He said Modi had changed the face of the country and brought about a “360-degree transformation”.Modi’s legacy, he said, was defined not only by longevity in office but by the scale of change brought during his tenure. “As I said, this is not only about being the longest-serving PM but the finest-serving,” he said.He said the BJP-led NDA was in office in 22 states and added that around 80% of the country’s population lived in states governed by the alliance. Claiming Modi’s popularity remained unmatched globally, Fadnavis said international rating agencies consistently ranked him as the world’s most popular leader and maintained his approval ratings at around 75%. The CM said 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty and food security provided to 80 crore citizens.

He also highlighted welfare measures such as PM-Kisan, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana and the Lakhpati Didi scheme.