While the Shiv Sena is venting its choler against the BJP state government in its party organ Saamana, the BJP, with perfect composure, is continuing to ride roughshod all over it. A day after BJP shot down Sena-led BMC's proposal to allow rooftop restaurants in the city, it may now go against the ally's plans for letting restaurants and pubs stay open all night, adding to the acrimony between the two. On Thursday evening, Colaba residents met local BJP MLA Raj Purohit at Radio Club to discuss their concerns about the problems that diners doing business in the area all night long will likely throw up.

Subhash Motwani, founding member of Clean Heritage Colaba Residents Association, said Purohit promised his full cooperation on the issue. "The idea to keep restaurants and pubs open all night is good. But are we equipped well enough to handle the crowd and the vehicles all night?" Motwani asked, adding that other cities with a good nightlife have the necessary infrastructure to back it up.Motwani said that on New Year's Eve, when diners are allowed to stay open practically all night, many police officials are deployed to maintain order and ensure nothing untoward goes down. "Can we have that kind of arrangement every weekend throughout the year?" he asked.Residents further said that on such occasions, unauthorised hawkers and roadside stalls crop up in the already-cramped city quarters to cater to the party crowd.

Incidentally, commissioner of police Rakesh Maria also gave his go-ahead to the plan recently. "Even though Maria has assured us that only those diners will be given permission that are away from residential areas, the crowd will invariably spill over to residential areas and encourage hooliganism," Motwani said. Purohit said, "Almost 90 per cent of people present in the meeting opposed the proposal to keep pubs and restaurants open all night, as this would inconvenience them. I will take opinions from other people and take their voice to the government.""Before clearing such a proposal, it is imperative to take people's opinion on the issue. It is against the city's culture," he added, in line with the BJP's presumption that it is the custodian of the nation's culture.Meanwhile, Colaba residents have started a signature campaign against the plan, which they would submit to Purohit, who will take it up in the assembly.

Reclaiming Mumbai's nightlife is Sena youth wing Yuva Sena's pet project, initiated by its chief Aaditya Thackeray last year.

Thackeray Junior stayed could not be reached for comment despite this paper's repeated attempts to get in touch with him.