Activists protest outside Amitabh Bachchan's house over Metro tweet
Mumbai: Activists opposing the proposed felling of over 2,600 trees in Aarey Colony staged a silent protest outside Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow here against his tweet supporting the Mumbai Metro project.
Several activists, who are against the felling of trees in the leafy colony to make way for a Metro car shed, on Wednesday staged their protest outside Bachchan's residence in Juhu, holding banners and placards carrying messages: 'Save Aarey' and 'Gardens do not make forests'.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bachchan in a tweet said, "Friend of mine had a medical emergency, decided to take METRO instead of his car...came back very impressed..said was faster, convenient and most efficient..Solution for Pollution..Grow more trees..I did in my garden.. have you."
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited's Managing Director Ashwini Bhide even hailed Bachchan's praise for the Metro project.
"Thank u @SrBachchan ji fr depicting d importance of #Metro so succinctly. Thank you for ur support. We'r committed 2 commission entire #MumbaiMetro network incldng @MumbaiMetro3 @d earliest r prvide faster, safer, convenient,#PollutionFree commute 2 #Mumbaikars #AareyAikaNa," Bhide tweeted.
However, environmental activist Zoru Bhathena, who has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the civic body's approval given for felling of the trees, asked the megastar to visit Aarey to understand the ground reality and also hit out at the Metro project authorities.
"Dear MMRDA Official, I hear you are looking for plots for constructing casting yards for your various METRO projects. Would SrBachchan's garden suffice? I think you'll will find the area suitable for your needs... and I am sure he would happily oblige too."
"Dear @SrBachchan. Would request you to leave the protection of your Garden & join our friends waiting for u outside. Sir, let us take you for a visit to Aarey It will change your perception Sir. When will you join us Sir. Aarey is waiting? #SaveAareyForest #SaveAareySaveMumbai," he said in another tweet.
The Aarey Colony, adjoining the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is known as a major green lung of the metropolis. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray has been quite vocal against the proposed felling of trees in the area.
Environmentalists and activists are also opposing the Metro car shed project and have been demanding its relocation. Several Bollywood personalities and politicians have also extended their support to these activists.
Commenting on the Aarey issue, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said it is the government's land which does not fall under a forest area.
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
