Say all problems should have been taken into consideration, some call it blatant discrimination
Reports of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) realigning Metro 2B near Bandra Kurla Complex due to security concerns for Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence Matoshree have irked the Parsi community.
Article by Jyoti Shelar | Mid-Day
The community had been demanding realignment of the underground Metro 3 tunnels to preserve the sanctity of two fire temples located near the Princess Street junction, but their request was not considered.
“They have violated our religious sentiments. They destroyed the sanctity and desecrated our ancient and holy fire temples,” community member Jamshed Sukhadwalla said. “They considered realignment for a particular family’s safety. We have no objection to that. But, it shows that the planning was never perfect. All such issues should have been taken into consideration while planning and preparing the estimate of the project,” he said. This also means that the authorities can consider the suggestions selectively, if they want to, Mr. Sukhadwalla said.
The 188-year-old Wadia Atash Behram and 122-year-old Anjuman Atash Behram, located near Princess Street junction, house the highest grade of fire for the Parsis. The community had demanded a realignment of the Metro tunnel by just four metres to ensure the spiritual sanctity of the fire temples is maintained.
Community member Viraf Kapadia termed the BKC realignment a “blatantly biased” move. “They have hurt the sentiments of the Parsi community. We were demanding something that was very important for us. They ignored such an important demand, but made changes for the concern of one family. How is that fair?” he said.
The community has even moved the Supreme Court for relief. In the latest development in the case, the Metro authorities proposed to move the Kalbadevi station 20 metres away from the nearest boundary wall of one fire temple.
The reports of the realignment at Bandra Kurla Complex have also upset citizens who have been fighting against a Metro shed coming up in the Aarey forest.
1.After all how many Parsi Votes can the current government expect from our tribe.Our numbers have fallen to such an extent that we cannot call ourselves a community any more.
2. We protested like educated, cultured, God fearing and civilised people without resorting to any type of vulgarity or violence.Unfortunately we spoke in a language not understood by the authorities.
Our case is akin to the Armed Forces who are sitting in protest for ONE RANK ONE PAY since the last 5 YEARS (without any results.)The veterans were bashed up on the streets of Delhi and a decorated retired Major General who is still leading the protest roughed up and taken to a local police chowki. Compare this with the well heeled Jat Community of Haryana who went on a rampage, causing hundreds of Crores of losses to public and private property, blocking highways with their expensive SUV’s, raping and looting when they demanded for backward class status. The CM invited them over and fed them “ladoos” and agreed on their demands immediately.