It’s a shame that a minister, Nitin Gadkari, has
spoken to the Indian Navy in an insulting manner. The union shipping minister’s
pompous statement to the Indian Navy, “We are in power and not the navy or the
defence ministry…” reeks of irresponsibility. And all because the Navy
approached him to seek land for housing.
Gadkari claims the Navy has objected to developmental
projects in Mumbai, especially towards a floating jetty at Malabar Hill. Hence
his salvo. He has refused to give the Indian Navy land for housing.
But Gadkari should realise the Navy and its concerns
are more important than his pet BOT ‘Build, operate and transfer’ projects. He should
also not tell the defence forces to do their job, because they always do more
than it. Which is why it is upto the country to ensure that whatever else they
need, is given to them without issues. Why do our ‘leaders’ fail to understand
our soldiers are more important than infrastructure?
Housing is a big headache for the forces, which may or
may not have spoken about it. Gadkari says he does not want to part with prime
land in south Mumbai. He should realise that our country has most of its land
because of our defence forces, not our political leaders. Speaking of which,
why do politicians have to stay in government houses in south Mumbai? They can
stay in official residences beyond Borivali. Maharashtra can be governed from
anywhere in the state. Demolishing government residences in south Mumbai will
free more land for developmental projects. After all, as the prime minister
said, he is ‘pradhan sevak’. So are all other ministers. Why then do they need
lavish houses in south Mumbai?
But even if the Navy does not get more land for
housing in south Mumbai, it is high time that its current residences there are rebuilt
or repaired. Perhaps it needs more land to build new housing and shift those currently
staying in dangerous quarters there. Most of their houses do seem very
dangerous. Many houses for Army personnel are in the same condition. It is
thanks to Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw’s vision that many houses were built for
Army personnel, but they need urgent attention now. It is a sad fact that
Indian defence personnel know that the Pakistani defence forces enjoy better
attention in all these aspects.
It won’t make much
difference if a developmental project does not take off in Mumbai. But it will
surely be a matter of shame for all Indians if there is a mishap with houses
belonging to our defence forces.