Top leaders assure Afroz of cooperation.
Top Maharashtra politicians swung into action on Thursday after reports that social activist Afroz Shah has suspended clean-up operation in Versova beach owing to threats from goons. He met Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai mayor V Mahadeshwar. Both gave Afroz assurance of providing security and help in cleaning up Versova beach.
Afroz Shah on Sunday tweeted that they have suspended their work after being threatened. Following that the post went viral on social media. Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray met him on Wednesday requesting him not to stop his social service.
On Thursday, Aaditya and Afroz met Mumbai mayor V Mahadeshwar. Yuva Sena chief later tweeted:
Afroz Shah also had a meeting with Devendra Fadnavis. Afroz was quoted by ANI as saying. " CM said combing operations will be done to stop heckling of volunteers, long-term planning required and expressed interest in joining the campaign."
Afroz Shah here on Wednesday has expressed regret that people's mindsets were not changing. "I was working very hard at ground level, but I realized people's mindsets were not changing, must face it truthfully. Drew a balance sheet to see where I was after 109 weeks when my volunteers were told off the beach,? he told ANI. He further said, "Accepting defeat is a positive sign. It forces you to think how to change things again. I will learn from it and do something good in the future."
Shah had started the campaign in October 2015 and has reportedly removed over five million kilograms of trash from the beach. Their movement even received recognition from United Nations Environment Programme after they were awarded with Champions of the Earth award in 2016. PM Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address has also praised Afroz for his social initiative.
With ANI inputs
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