The proposal had been sent by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to Mumbai police chief Rakesh Maria, who in turn, sent it to the home department for further action.
Amid spirited attempts by scores of Mumbaikars to revive the city's nightlife, even the police have said that they are ready to provide security if the plan is implemented, the state home department seems determined to play the role of party pooper.
A couple of weeks ago, the department had sent a file on the issue to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with an adverse remark. Additional chief secretary (home) K P Bakshi said that they had categorically stated that the department was against nightlife.
The proposal had been sent by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to Mumbai police chief Rakesh Maria, who in turn, sent it to the home department for further action.
Justifying their remark, Bakshi said, "Nightlife is not for the entire society. It is mainly for a select audience of youngsters as well as for the call-centre employees or IT people who have odd duty hours."
The top bureaucrat said that permitting such a thin population group to unwind late at night would add to law and order problems, thereby giving anti-social elements an opportunity to commit crimes. "Moreover, deploying policemen for such a small section of society on a regular basis would add to the burden of the force which is not affordable."
Bakshi pointed out that as far as law and order was concerned, Mumbai had a better record and name than Delhi. But if nightlife is allowed, he said, untoward incidents, including molestation, cannot be ruled out.
Years after the government snuffed out city's nightlife, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray recently mooted the proposal on the grounds that it would create jobs, while also offering avenues to IT staffers and the youth to unwind.
While the young leader had made it clear that 24x7 bars and pubs should be allowed to come up only at few locations, BJP leaders, including city unit president Ashish Shelar, had opposed it citing potential nuisance to other sections of society.
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