BMC votes to stop builders denying flats on food preferences

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has passed a resolution wherein any builder denying flats on the grounds of food preferences, caste or religion of the occupant will face action which includes revocation of development-related permissions.
However, BJP, which is ruling BMC in alliance with Shiv Sena, was left isolated when other political parties including Sena, Congress and SP teamed up to pass the motion last evening in the General Body meeting.
The resolution, submitted to Mayor Snehal Ambekar by MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande on November 13, stated the BMC should cancel occupation certificates (OCs) of housing societies, whose developers refuse to sell flats to members of a particular community or caste, or non-vegetarians.

It also said that developers who engage in such practices should not be given water connections.
"All the parties, except the BJP, stood with us during the voice motion and hence we could pass it with majority. This resolution is the need of the hour because it is grossly unfair to differentiate people on the grounds of their food preferences. By doing this, we are violating their fundamental rights," Deshpande told PTI.
The resolution will now be forwarded to municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte for further remarks, following which it will be sent to the Urban Development department of the state government.

"Now let us see what Devendra Fadnavis has to say on this. If he does not agree to this resolution, his hypocrisy will be out in front of everyone," Deshpande said.

Congress leader Nitesh Rane termed the passing of the resolution in the BMC a "sham" and claimed this proposal will not be accepted by the state government.
"The BJP had opposed this motion in the BMC. And they are the ones controlling the central and state governments, which is why I strongly feel this resolution will be junked unless taken up in the Assembly," Rane said.
"I will take up this issue in the winter session and if government fails to reply satisfactorily, we will not hesitate in going out on the streets to demand justice," he added.