BJP: Temple corridor to be created to promote religious tourism in Mumbai | Mumbai News

Mumbai: A temple corridor connecting Mumbadevi, Babulnath, Mahalaxmi and Siddhivinayak temples will be created to promote religious tourism in Mumbai, said Pavan Tripathi, the BJP Mahamantri for Mumbai. Tripathi, who was deeply involved in the selection of candidates for the BMC elections, expressed confidence that the Mahayuti would win 150 seats, of which the BJP would bag more than 100.Speaking to TOI, Tripathi said there is no Marathi-non-Marathi issue in this election. The BJP, he said, provided homes to the Marathi Manoos, with the BDD chawls being a prime example. The sin of forcing the Marathi Manoos out of Mumbai is that of Uddhav Thackeray, he said. On North Indians being given fewer tickets, Tripathi said 21 seats were given to North Indians and there was no discrimination. “We are hopeful that all the candidates will win. All tickets were given keeping every criterion in mind,” he said.

The election, he said, is being fought on the issue of security and development. To ensure the city’s development continues, they will vote for the BJP only. On the issue of security, he said, “After 2014, Mumbai became a very safe city. Earlier, there were bomb blasts at regular frequency, earning the city the moniker ‘Bomb Blast City’. Women, including those from the Muslim community, will vote for the Mahayuti on the issue of security and not just the Ladki Bahin Yojana, as they are the worst sufferers when a family member is lost in such incidents.“On the issue of encroachments, Tripathi said the party raising awareness about infiltrators and illegal encroachments helped contain the spread of such settlements, particularly in Malwani in Malad West. He said the party is committed to a slum-free Mumbai, and this would not only reduce crime but drug addiction too.The BJP “Sankalp Patra” (manifesto) will be released in the next few days, said Tripathi, and it would focus on upgrading civic hospitals and schools, besides welfare measures for women. Tripathi said he was all for the removal of encroachments on footpaths and widening them to ensure hassle-free pedestrian movement.Those who committed corruption in the BMC in the last 25 years will not go scot-free, he said. “Certain investigations are underway; the culprits will be punished,” he said.