BMC chief wants simple language on forms, Sena, BJP oppose move: Hindustan Times

MUMBAI: Petty politics has scored over public interest once again. On Friday, the ruling Shiv SenaBharatiya Janata Party combine in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation took a dig at newly appointed municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta in the standing committee.

The reason: he issued a circular asking the administration to simplify the language in application forms for citizen services.

The Sena condemned the circular, calling it demeaning and against the Marathi language. Ally BJP said the commissioner should be coached in the language if he finds it difficult to understand.

“If our commissioner has difficulty in understanding the language, our education department should arrange coaching for him and all additional municipal commissioners,” said Manoj Kotak, BJP group leader.

However, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), usually a champion of Marathi language and culture, supported the commissioner and said it’s a move in the right direction.

“Official language is tough and not comprehensible by all, thus he has just asked to simplify and shorten the long and cumbersome forms for the benefit of citizens. Nowhere did he say replace Marathi. There is absolutely no need to condemn it,” said Sandeep Deshpande, MNS group leader.

In line with the state’s ease of doing business agenda, the municipal commissioner, in a letter dated May 13, asked all additional municipal commissioners to ensure application forms that are used by citizens be simplified and shortened.

This is not the first time political parties in the civic body have tried to be champions of Mumbai’s Marathi population.

With an eye on the 2017 civic elections, every proposal coming to corporators has been scrutinised to rake up the son of soil agenda in the BMC. For instance, after a high court order that states water must be made available to all, the civic body presented a draft proposal to the civic standing committee. The Sena and MNS opposed the proposal, saying illegal slum dwellers in Mumbai are from the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.