Its peoples' agitation

According to the news article published by Samna; the dumping ground protest in Uttan has been deliberated by the catholics in the area. The writer should have checked the essentials behind the agitation before publishing such a deceptive article.

Link to Samna article

When the church bell tolled the Hindus, Muslims, Catholics rather all the united people of Uttan gathered for the agitation. In our secular country the stench is not directed to the noses of a certain group of religion; everybody in the vicinity is protesting against the same issue.

The Uttan dumping ground protest has nothing to do with religion because everyone gets the same stench. It's a peoples' issue and not a religious or political issue. The government is trying to block our noses to stench by bleeding them and media is trying to divide us.

In the context of dumping ground agitation I met few people to get their opinion. I found out everybody is fighting against the same enemy and everyone speaks for the same cause.

Hyder Ali Akbar Balbale (Maulana Sunnat Jamat):
When the church bell tolled everyone knew it was an alarm and it was regarding the dumping ground, people were aware of it. I inquired from the people on the road and got to know about the lathi charge. I started announcements in the Masjid and started gathering people from my community. After announcing several times we gathered around the Karai Mohalla Masjid and headed towards the lathi charge site.

Due to the Ramadan fasting period most of our brothers and sisters could not attend the agitation but we are a part of it and shall protest against the issue until the end.

“Yeh Goan ki musibat hai aur sabka Haq banta hai isme shaamil hone ke liye”

Darshana Mhatre (Local Resident)

This is my birth place and I stay close to the church. The church bell is tolled when there is a calamity in the village; whether it’s a fire or any other kind of help required from the people. When the church bell tolled it was not only for Catholics but for everyone who are part of the dumping ground agitation. Religion is no where in picture and some people and media are trying to project this as a religious issue. We all are united and shall fight this evil.

Anwar Khan (Trust Board Member, Uttan Sunnat Jamat, Karai Mohalla)
I was out for a pan and saw people flocking on the roads. On inquiring I got to know that there was a lathi charge at the dumping ground agitation site. My son was out and had already reached the site. We offered a Friday prayer (Jumma Namaz) for peace and I also made announcement in our Masjid regarding the same. I strongly believe this is a peoples issue and we should all protest against the dumping ground. It’s become very difficult to live with the stench. I have asked at least a member from each family to join the vigil. Lathi charge was completely unexpected and we condemn the inhumane act. More over the government should take peoples opinion before starting such awful projects that costs so much to the environment and public health.

We have and shall keep agitating against the Dumping ground Issue.

Abdullah Siddiqui (Local Resident)
The Writer hasn’t attempted to check the facts before writing this article or else would have known how people are fighting the common enemy irrespective of which religion they follow. I am unable to understand how this agitation can be termed as one being fought by the church for the land. It’s about right to unpolluted air and water whether you are a Christian, Hindu or Muslim.

Hemant Mhatre (Local Resident)
My family members were already present for the vigil and gave me lathi charge information. We are part of this agitation from day one. The writer of Samna article has published this article with his eyes closed or under some pressure. The writer has tried to mislead the readers from the current issue of the agitation. Garbage not collected from Mira-Bhayander has become a major concern but the problems faced by our people due to the garbage recycling plant are neglected. Samna claims that they have raised voice against the garbage dumping issue in Mira-Bhayander but they have a biased opinion about the issue and are not concerned about the people of Uttan.

Fr. Sandeep Borges (Uttan Parish)
I personally took interest and got involved because people call me "Father" and spiritually they are my children. If there is something wrong happening to them it is my duty to support them and be with them. When I spoke on the agitation day I did not only speak about the garbage related to the dumping ground but also about the garbage we carry in our mind. I am thanking god that people have at least come together for this issue. It has built up energy and it should be utilized. The elections are coming and I’m not bothered who wins it but people should use their conscience and vote. Whichever political party comes in power should work for the betterment of the people.

Stench is not the only problem there are so many health related problem arising amongst the school children and adults. The harmful gases in the air are affecting the people, land and water are also being polluted. We are not against the project , it’s just not put up at the correct place and is having a drastic effect on the people in particular and the environment at large.

We should not pay heed to the Samna article because it’s published to create religious anger amongst the reader’s. The publishers should in fact feel uncomfortable that after doing all the possible things people are still united and living happily.