Rahul asked- If Adani has Dharavi land worth Rs 1 lakh crore then who is safe?
# News Bureau November 18,2024
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (18 November) visited Dharavi, Mumbai’s largest slum, to meet local artisans and small industry representatives. The visit came ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, where the political battle has intensified. Gandhi on this occasion launched a scathing attack on the growing influence of businessman Gautam Adani in Mumbai and especially on the controversial redevelopment project in Dharavi.
After meeting the people of Dharavi, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in which he displayed a safe. Gandhi attacked corporate control over Mumbai’s land and resources, particularly Adani’s involvement in the redevelopment of Dharavi. He warned that such corporate domination could lead to a drastic change in the character of the city and harm public interest, especially the environment of Mumbai.
Gandhi mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” slogan by bringing a safe to reporters in Dharavi. Rahul suggested the slogan was part of a strategy to ensure the acquisition of vast tracts of land through the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, a project that Gandhi claims benefits Adani and other corporate interests at the expense of Dharavi’s poor residents.
Rahul Gandhi described the upcoming Maharashtra election as a battle of ideologies, pitting the interests of a few billionaires against those of the common people. “This election is a contest between 1-2 billionaires and the poor. The billionaires want the land of Mumbai to go into their hands. An estimated Rs 1 lakh crore could be given to a billionaire,” Gandhi said. Gandhi stressed that the Congress’ focus is on supporting Maharashtra’s farmers, the underprivileged, the unemployed and the youth who need help.
He unearthed two posters from the safe, one with a picture of Adani and Modi with the caption “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” and the other showing a map of the Dharavi redevelopment project. Gandhi accused the government of manipulating the process to benefit business tycoons and claimed that the interests of Dharavi residents were being sidelined to benefit Adani.
Rahul Gandhi showed the list of projects that have been taken away from the youth of Maharashtra and sent outside. These include the Rs 1.5 lakh crore Vedanta- Foxconn semiconductor plant – this would have provided employment to thousands of youth here, but this was taken away from you. The Rs 1.8 lakh crore Tata Airbus manufacturing unit – this would have provided employment to 6 thousand youth, but this too was taken away from you. The Rs 2 lakh crore iPhone plant – this would have provided employment to 75 thousand youth, but this too was taken away by the BJP.
Gandhi outlined the Congress’ main promises for the Maharashtra election, addressing key issues such as employment, inflation and welfare of women and farmers. One of the key proposals was financial assistance for women, with free bus travel as well as Rs 3,000 per month promised to each woman. Additionally, the Congress leader also promised loan waivers of up to Rs 3 lakh for farmers as well as a guaranteed price of Rs 7,000 per quintal for soybean and assured onion prices.
The controversial Dharavi redevelopment project has been a centre of political discussion ahead of the elections. Gandhi criticised the tender process, alleging that it was designed to favour Adani’s business interests. The Congress leader claimed that the redevelopment project, estimated to cost Rs 1 lakh crore, was being handed over to a single billionaire, putting Dharavi’s poor residents at risk of being displaced. Gandhi promised that if elected, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would ensure that Dharavi’s land rights are returned to its genuine residents.
