BJP MLA slaps civil engineer over razing of ‘illegal structure’

No police complaint or FIR was registered in the matter till late Tuesday evening.

BJP MLA slapping, Thane MLA slaps civil engineer, illegal structure razed,Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, Geeta Jain, indian express, indian express news

Video grab of the BJP MLA Geeta Jain catching hold of the junior engineer and slapping him. (Express Photo)

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BHARATIYA JANATA Party (BJP) MLA from Thane district Geeta Jain allegedly slapped a junior civil engineer working for the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation(MBMC) over an issue of razing an ‘illegal structure’. The junior engineer who was slapped, works on a contractual basis for MBMC Corporation.

The incident took place at Penkarpada area of Kashimira, where the MBMC’s anti-encroachment squad was carrying out a demolition drive ahead of monsoon.

In the one-minute long video that has now gone viral on social media, Jain is seen scolding two engineers. She is then seen holding one of the engineer’s shirt collar and slapping him for razing some structures that caused the occupants, including children, to stay on the roads with monsoon looming.

Jain said she raised her hand since the engineer laughed at the woman’s agony. Jain questioned how the engineers could raze structures and reminded them about a Government Resolution (GR) that prohibits government agencies to raze residential structures during monsoon.

“I asked the two engineers why the structures were demolished ahead of monsoon. I asked all this because the house belonged to a woman and she stayed there with her children. When I asked why did they raze the structures and if they understood that their consequences will force the family to stay on the road, they laughed. I couldn’t tolerate the insult of a woman…,” said Jain.

The BJP MLA said she had no regrets over what she did and she is prepared for the consequences. Jain said only a portion of the house razed by junior civic engineers was illegal and its occupants had promised to remove the illegal part.

“The illegal construction was proving to be a hurdle for a builder and not to any government amenity or road. Still, these civic officials went there and instead of demolishing the illegal portion, they razed the entire house,” she claimed.

Referring to the Government Resolution, Jain said, “I had told the officials about this GR and asked them not to proceed 15 days ago. The order comes into effect on June 1 every year. Still, they went ahead and damaged the house a few days ago,” she claimed. The civic officials even pulled the hair of women who were opposing the demolition of their house, Jain alleged.

Jain, a former BJP mayor, won the 2019 polls as an independent and has extended her support to the BJP-Shiv Sena government.