Sagar Thakur

BMC

Congress

Bharatiya Janata Party

The big question is if Ramesh andwill return their 7 grounds to the, as per CM’s diktatWill the ‘kings of opens spaces’ return their kingdom? That’s the big question as father-son duo of formerlegislator Ramesh Thakur and son Sagar joined the(BJP) last week.Many in Congress circles have given them this moniker as trusts and organisations affiliated to the duo control at least seven large recreation and playgrounds in the city.Last week, the Thakurs joined the BJP, thus becoming the largest holders of civic recreation grounds and playgrounds in a party that has categorically said that the BMC must take back all open spaces given out to private entities.Organisations affiliated to BJP MP Gopal Shetty also maintain open spaces, but Shetty has already offered to return the grounds to the BMC. He has claimed that even before the BMC had decided to take back open spaces, he had written to the BMC asking them to reclaim the spaces with his organisations.Following an uproar over open spaces being taken over by private entities, Fadnavis had instructed the BMC to take back all 216 open spaces. Under pressure from civil society groups and the CM’s order, the BMC began taking back open spaces. However, the BMC only managed to take back 126 open spaces leaving 91 with the existing organisations. No proper explanation was given as to why these 91 were let off. Thakur’s open spaces are yet to be taken back.According to BMC records, Zagdu Singh Charitable Trust maintains three open spaces in Kandivali. Similarly, plots are also taken up by Shyam Narayan Thakur School run by the Thakur Education Trust and Thakur College of Science and Commerce.“Regardless of whoever it is, all open spaces must be taken back. Shiv Sena and BJP leaders have taken over land worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The BMC is going slow since it is under pressure from the Sena and BJP,” city Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam alleged. BJP group leader in the BMC, Manoj Kotak maintained that the party’s stand was clear that all open spaces must be taken back by the BMC, as per the CM’s directions.When contacted, Ramesh Thakur said, “We are waiting for the BMC’s new interim policy that will let private entities maintain the open spaces since the BMC can’t maintain them on their own. We have not received any notice from the BMC. We allow entry to all residents and anyone and come and play too. There are no complaints.”His son Sagar echoed his sentiments and added, “We have already returned two of the open spaces already. We don’t deny entry to anyone. It is for everyone to use.”