Mayor ‘threatens’ staff over stalls

Mumbai: Mumbai mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar has allegedly threatened a civic official with suspension for taking action against illegal roadside stalls in suburban Bandra.

A clip containing the audio of the Shiv Sena corporator purportedly threatening to suspend the official has gone viral.

Mr Mahadeshwar, however, rejected the charge that he intimidated the officer, and claimed he only wanted to know from him how a few stalls which had been doing business for the past 40-50 years became illegal suddenly.

According to the conversation in the audio clip recorded by the officer, Mr Mahadeshwar on Friday purportedly questioned him in Marathi about why notices were being served to stall owners doing business since decades.

The mayor was also heard accusing the official of “harassing” the stall owners because they were from a particular community. Mr Mahadeshwar then ordered the official to come to his office along with his seniors.

The official, identified only as Jiitendra, was heard requesting the mayor to speak to his seniors, saying demolition of the stalls, violating terms of licences, was being undertaken according to their orders.

BJP MLA Ashish Shelar disapproved of Mr Mahadeshwar’s conduct. “The officials removed the stalls on the basis of public demand and their reports. This action (of removing illegal stalls) is essential for smooth flow of traffic,” he said.

When contacted, Mr Mahadeshwar said he had spoken with the official,  but said his conversation was “misinterpreted”.

“Yes. I did speak to the official... Let me clarify that I support the action against illegal activities. But I wonder how a few stalls can become illegal suddenly when they have been doing business for the past 40-50 years,” the mayor said.