BeyondHeadlines News Desk
Social activist Medha Patkar called off her fast late last night after Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan assured her an inquiry into slum demolition in Mumbai.
Chavan assured her that an inquiry into the demolition of a Mumbai slum would be completed within eight days.
Patkar ahad been on fast for nine days in protest of demolition of 43 houses in Mumbai’s Golibar Slum area.
“Ended d fast after a meaningful resolution of issues following meetings with Secretary Housing & CM. Thanks everyone for support. Zindabaad!” Ms Patkar wrote on her Twitter account on Saturday morning.
Medha began her fast on April 4 alleging corruption by builders in the city’s slum rehabilitation scheme, and called for the halting of six projects by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, until a proper inquiry is conducted.
The corruption and nexus between the Government and Builders under the cover of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in Mumbai, that has led to lakhs of slum-dwellers struggling for the basic right to a house. The most recent example is collapse of a 8 storey building in Mumbra, constructed within a span of 2-3 months leading to death of more than 70 people.
People of the slums have been fighting for their rights since 2004, when vast areas of slums in Mumbai were razed to the ground by the Vilasrao Deshmukh government to convert Mumbai to Shanghai. The Adarsh Housing Scam, Hiranandani Developers Land grab are examples of the extent to which a handful of powerful people are robbing the common man of a basic right to shelter.
Related News: Medha Patkar Continues Indefinite Fast Fighting for Slum Dweller
