Thane, Jul 12 (UNI) Tempers run high among the lakhs of villagers in Panvel over the demand for naming the new Airport after their revered leader DB Patil.
The Deputy Mayor of Panvel Municipal corporation, Jagdish Gaikwad, on Monday stated that Shiv Sena chief and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray should not take the agitating villagers for granted, and warned that they can go to any extend to press for their demands and get it fulfilled.
He recalled the yeoman services of DB Patil for the sake of the villagers who had lost their land for the mega projects, including the Airport. “When we have given our land it is our right to get name of our choice for the Airport. Late Patil has given his blood for the sake of the villagers. He did not have a house of his own till end,” Mr Gaikwad pointed out.
“But for DB Patil the villagers, especially Agri-Koli would have not developed economically, we have pucca houses, high end cars and are big professionals and builders too thanks to Patil. It is our gratitude towards him,” he remarked.
He challenged the Shiv Sena to go in for an opinion poll and was confident that the masses will go in for DB Patil’s name.
All the 95 villages around have opted for his name. The Sena will face serious problems if it does not pay any heed to our demands, he underscored.
He also said that the villagers will not allow the three runways to be constructed if the demand is not met. The work on the Airport will be opposed tooth and nail, he added. “We are presently requesting with folded hands and if the government fails to pay any heed to it then, we will light an agitation and with the same fire burn the airport,” he warned.
“If the Sena feels that they can crush our agitation they are just dreaming. The police have treated us like Naxals when there was no need,” he said.
