World · India Bureau
Ex-BJP MP Protests Mumbai BMC Demolition with Head-Shaving Act
Former BJP Member of Parliament Gopal Shetty shaved his head in protest against the Mumbai Municipal Corporation's demolition of 27 residences in Borivali East, criticizing local party leadership for failing to support the displaced families.
LSN India ·

Shetty, a former parliamentarian from the Bharatiya Janata Party, resorted to the symbolic act of tonsuring his head to express his opposition to the BMC's action against structures erected on a 3,400-square-metre plot in Borivali East. The demolition rendered dozens of families homeless, triggering sharp criticism from the veteran politician.
In his statement, Shetty alleged that the local BJP leadership had abandoned their responsibility to the affected residents, allowing the municipal authority to proceed with the demolition without adequate intervention or support. He characterized the situation as a failure of the party's commitment to its constituents.
The Borivali demolition has drawn attention to the BMC's enforcement operations in residential areas, where unauthorized construction remains a persistent issue. Shetty's protest highlights the tension between urban development regulations and the plight of families facing displacement due to housing violations.
The incident underscores growing friction within the BJP's Mumbai organizational structure over the handling of civic matters and constituent grievances. Shetty's high-profile protest action appears aimed at pressuring party officials to take a more active role in advocating for affected families in future demolition operations.