Mumbai: Support for Radio Jockey Malishka of a local radio station, Red FM, has been growing across Mumbai ever since her catchy, satirical song became a hit with Mumbaikars but not with the civic body that has been mocked in the Marathi parody for its inefficiency in tackling potholes.
Annoyed by the video poking fun at the Shiv Sena-run Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body sent out its staff to the RJ’s house and blamed her for breeding mosquitos since a dish holding a pot had stagnant water — a good enough reason for the BMC to send a notice and fine her. The BMC paid a second visit to the RJ’s house to see if there was any illegal construction.
One municipal corporator, an elected person in the BMC, even urged for a defamation suit to be filed against her for defaming Mumbai. The Sena was clearly out against her for spoiling the image of Mumbai through this song which asked Mumbaikars if they had faith in the BMC pointing to the pathetic condition of roads, traffic jams and crowded trains.
But the Sena’s attitude has not gone down well with Mumbaikaras who, from all sections of the society, openly came out in support of Malishka. She, undeterred, has said she has six more songs up her sleeve and will release them when she returns from abroad. The support is growing since there isn’t a single person in this city who is not affected by potholed roads across this city — be it schoolchildren, motorists, pregnant women, the elderly or normal commuters.
Today, ordinary folk, several members of the Watchdog Foundation, headed by Godfrey Pimenta and Nicholas Almeida, and other NGOs demonstrated their support for Malishka by holding face masks of the RJ and highlighted the potholed roads at a traffic signal at Marol, in suburban Andheri (East). They also distributed small pain balm bottles to motorists for putting up with the terrible roads.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Mumbai, too, came forward to lend its support and “oppose the pressure tactics, hooliganism and goondaism with complete impunity of the ruling political parties of the BMC,” said Abhishek Bhat of the AAP. The party held a silent protest this afternoon at Azad Maidan against the Sena’s threats and “fake notices to arm twist good Samaritans”.
He added, “RJ Malishka has been hounded by the Shiv Sena for sharing the plight of Mumbaikars with regards to the apathy of the condition of our roads maintained by the BMC.”
A few days back Ashish Shelar of the BJP unit in Mumbai questioned the BMC on its raids at her place.
It is a pity that every monsoon, the city’s roads become like craters on the moon and the BMC continues to be defensive. Also responsible are the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited who have all failed the city consistently.
