10 AIMIM corporators booked for obstructing anti-encroachment drive in a Muslim-majority area in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The incident involved taunting the administration by saying it ‘belongs to us’’
The drive was launched by the municipal corporation against unauthorised street vendors involved in hooliganism

(AIMIM is All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen)

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – During an anti-encroachment drive in the Shahganj area, a Muslim-majority locality, the municipal team was threatened and verbally abused with remarks like, ‘Does the municipal corporation belong to your father?’ Ten corporators and three relatives, along with opposition leader Abdul Sameer Sajid, obstructed the drive. Cases were registered on 1 March against them and another 30–40 people based on a complaint by Deputy Commissioner Savita Sonawane. This incident now puts the positions of these corporators at risk.

What exactly happened ?

A few days ago, unauthorised street vendors in Shahganj had assaulted a pregnant woman. To curb this hooliganism, the municipal corporation launched a major drive on 27 February; however, at 5 pm, a group of corporators led by Abdul Sameer Sajid arrived and stopped the action.

Verbal abuse and shoving directed at administrative officials:

Deputy Commissioner of the anti-encroachment team, Savita Sonawane
Sanitation Officer Santosh Waghule and other staff

The corporators used obscene language and pushed the officials, shouting ‘Get out of here’ (यहां से निकल), forcing the team away. Corporator Firoz Khan recorded the incident on video and circulated it on social media. The complaint notes this as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of law-abiding officials. (It must be noted that had the officials not tolerated this opposition, their lives could have been at risk—hence the complaint mentions this! – Editor)

The corporators against whom cases have been registered:

1. Opposition leader Abdul Sameer Sajid
2. Corporator Syed Usama Abdul Qadir
3. Corporator Kakasahib Kakde
4. Corporator Aqil Ahmed
5. Corporator Firoz Khan
6. Corporator Meraj Khan
7. Corporator Mahmad Wajed Jahagirdar
8. Corporator Sohel Qureshi
9. Corporator Munshi Patel
10. Corporator Mahmad Wasim

A reprehensible attempt by AIMIM state president Imtiaz Jalil to back the corporators!
Protesting against the commissioner!

State president Imtiaz Jalil supported his corporators who obstructed official work and misbehaved with women officials, even going so far as to stage a protest against the municipal commissioner. He claimed that registering cases against elected representatives is ‘oppression’. (In reality, this is Jalil’s own oppression. Why should action not be taken against him for this act against democracy? – Editor) By conveniently ignoring the trouble and hooliganism caused to the public by unauthorised vendors, Jalil justified his corporators’ actions that flouted the law. He also labelled administrative discipline as ‘unjust’ and threatened to launch a protest against the commissioner.

Editorial Perspectives

It is regrettable to say that registering cases against them achieves nothing. There needs to be the will of the administration to arrest such individuals and curb hooliganism in Shahganj! When will that will be created remains to be seen !
Would it be wrong if someone asks or alleges, ‘Do these street vendors pay ‘protection money’ to corporators ?
Can AIMIM corporators who oppose action against criminals ever serve the public interest ?