BMC locks out MNS netas from holding presser at civic HQ

MUMBAI: Officials of the

BMC

, which is led by the Shiv Sena, prevented Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers from holding a press conference at the civic headquarters on Thursday. The MNS workers were about to hold a presser to raise objection to a change in reservation of a municipal plot at

Shivaji Park

. The plot's reservation tag has been changed from 'municipal gymkhana' to 'municipal housing'. The MNS's objection is that the gymkhana currently meant for recreation welfare of civic employees will be lost, making the staffers to lose out.

As MNS officials were about to hold the presser, BMC officials locked up the press room. MNS workers, led by former party leader in the BMC, Sandeep Deshpande, then landed up at the chamber of public relations oficer (PRO) Vijay Khabale to question their move. The PRO said they were denied access to the press room as no protocol had been followed to hold the conference. "The civic civic authority was not informed in any way," said Khabale.

MNS's secretary Sandeep Deshpande said that BMC plans to convert the gymkhana into the mayor's bungalow. "So many municipal employees will be affected if the plot is converted into the mayor's bungalow. We will continue to object," he said.

TOI reported in May about reservation of the plot being changed from 'municipal gymkhana' to 'municipal housing' and that the mayor's bungalow could come up there.