Museum battle: MNS wants to alter 10-yr-old resolution
Stepping up its protest against the proposed expansion of the Bhau Daji Lad museum, the MNS has sought the reopening of the 2003 Corporation Resolution that led to the formation of the trust to run the facility.
Raj Thackeray’s party has moved a notice of motion demanding that the 2003 CR be altered to give the BMC more powers in the affairs of the museum. Corporators from across parties are backing the MNS’s move, which started as a battle to save a playground. The motion was moved by Byculla MNS corporator Sameeta Naik.
Following the 2003 resolution, a tri-party agreement was created between the Bajaj Foundation, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and BMC. The Mayor is the chairperson of the trust overseeing museum affairs.
MNS Group Leader in the BMC, Sandip Deshpande, said his party wanted a comprehensive debate on the issue. “We will give a list of specific changes so that the BMC gets actual control of the museum and we can save the playground. The trust is headed by the mayor but she was not even informed about the expansion. We will also question the rational behind appointing a special trust. We want to know why the BMC can’t run the museum,” Deshpande said, adding that his party will rethink its opposition to the expansion plans if the playground was left untouched.
The SP and the Congress have backed the proposal. MNS leaders have demanded that the museum’s financial transactions be audited by the BMC. Similarly, they have demanded that the mayor be apprised of the activities of the museum at regular intervals.
In his written reply to the BMC’s GB, Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte had said that the portion of the plot that is being used as a playground is marked as an open ground and is not reserved as a playground. “The museum extension is going to take place on a portion that is used as site for dumping garbage. A major portion of the ground will continue to remain as an open space," Kunte had said.
Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, museum’s honorary director, has maintained that rather than taking away the playground, the expansion will actually create a play area for children.
“We are in democratic set up and people have every right to protest,” Mehta told Mirror. “We are open to any kind of scrutiny. If they (MNS) feel we have made some mistakes, we will rectify it. But the issue should not be politicised. Just because the Shiv Sena backed the expansion plan, the MNS must not oppose it. This not an Us vs Them battle.”
Raj Thackeray’s party has moved a notice of motion demanding that the 2003 CR be altered to give the BMC more powers in the affairs of the museum. Corporators from across parties are backing the MNS’s move, which started as a battle to save a playground. The motion was moved by Byculla MNS corporator Sameeta Naik.
Following the 2003 resolution, a tri-party agreement was created between the Bajaj Foundation, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and BMC. The Mayor is the chairperson of the trust overseeing museum affairs.
“The notice of motion will be placed before the General Body. The party that moved the motion can suggest specific changes. If the house agrees, the 2003 CR can be modified,” said an official from the Municipal Secretary’s department.
MNS Group Leader in the BMC, Sandip Deshpande, said his party wanted a comprehensive debate on the issue. “We will give a list of specific changes so that the BMC gets actual control of the museum and we can save the playground. The trust is headed by the mayor but she was not even informed about the expansion. We will also question the rational behind appointing a special trust. We want to know why the BMC can’t run the museum,” Deshpande said, adding that his party will rethink its opposition to the expansion plans if the playground was left untouched.
The SP and the Congress have backed the proposal. MNS leaders have demanded that the museum’s financial transactions be audited by the BMC. Similarly, they have demanded that the mayor be apprised of the activities of the museum at regular intervals.
In his written reply to the BMC’s GB, Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte had said that the portion of the plot that is being used as a playground is marked as an open ground and is not reserved as a playground. “The museum extension is going to take place on a portion that is used as site for dumping garbage. A major portion of the ground will continue to remain as an open space," Kunte had said.
Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, museum’s honorary director, has maintained that rather than taking away the playground, the expansion will actually create a play area for children.
“We are in democratic set up and people have every right to protest,” Mehta told Mirror. “We are open to any kind of scrutiny. If they (MNS) feel we have made some mistakes, we will rectify it. But the issue should not be politicised. Just because the Shiv Sena backed the expansion plan, the MNS must not oppose it. This not an Us vs Them battle.”
