|
Mumbai : Distinguished criminal lawyer, Ram Jethmalani,
on Monday, assumed the role of the counsel for the residents
of the distraught Sindhi community of Ulhasnagar. He
will also consider advising the state, apart from taking
on the Bombay High Court, if necessary.
Jethmalani had been reluctant when approached with the
case previously. However, this time, he has made up
his mind to fight for the town. “I am a Sindhi
and will do my best to help the people of Ulhasnagar,”
he said. In fact, the former Union Law Minister has
refused to take even his professional fees. “I
have been hesitating in taking up new work, but I will
advise and help the people of Ulhasnagar,” said
Jethmalani, who has been trying to lessen his workload.
In the last few weeks, Ulhasnagar—the distant
suburb is home to more than 5 lakh residents, mainly
Sindhis who migrated from Pakistan after the Partition—has
witnessed sporadic violence and protests over the high
court’s decision to demolish 855 illegal buildings.
Kanhaiyyalal Gidwani, Shiv Sena Member of Legislative
Council, had threatened to give up his membership of
the Council if the state government failed to undertake
the cause of more than 1 lakh residents close to being
left homeless. It is believed that Gidwani persuaded
Jethmalani to take up the defense, if required. The
State Legislative Council Deputy Chairman, Vasant Davkhare,
had directed the state government to structure Special
Development Control Rules (DC) for the town of Ulhasnagar.
He had stated that it was not ‘‘proper’’
to affect the standard DCR to Ulhasnagar as it ‘‘originally
was a settlement for refugees who came from Pakistan.”
He had said in his ruling that the government must bear
in mind, the unusual circumstances that have been the
cause of the unplanned expansion in the city. Davkhare
had also cautioned the state government against a possible
contempt of court and called for a suitable execution
of the directives to avoid the wrath of the court. Gidwani
is now hopeful, that the sate government will act soon.
“I am going to appeal to Chief Minister Vilasrao
Deshmukh to take in Jethmalani’s legal advice
on this matter,” said Gidwani. “Jethmalani
belongs to the same community and can understand issues
better,” he added. The decision of framing the
special rules for Ulhasnagar now lies in the hands of
the Chief Minister. If the state moves the High Court
to ask for a deferment of the demolitions, Jethmalani
will most certainly stand up for the Sindhi community.
|
