'Vada pav' wars: BMC removes Shiv Sena's stalls after Nitesh Rane's warning

The Mumbai civic body today removed around 80 illegal stalls across the city including Shiv Vada Pav stalls set up by the Shiv Sena.

"We have not discriminated against anyone and taken action against those who do not have the requisite licences," said Chandrashekhar Rokade, deputy municipal commissioner.

"We removed around 80 stalls today in the city and Eastern and Western suburbs," Rokade told PTI. These included "eight to nine" Shiv Vada Pav stalls, he added. The other stalls included those serving cold drinks, he added.

Swabhimaan Sanghatana, led by Nitesh Rane inaugurated its first Chhatrapati Vada Pav centre at Powai on July 1.

Nitesh, son of state industries minister Narayan Rane and a bitter rival of the Sena, had warned the BMC against selective targeting of his outlets.

"If the BMC wants to demolish our illegal stalls, they should first start with Shiv vada centres first," Nitesh had said. Sena has all along insisted that its stalls are legal.

"We have the sanction of the civic body," said Ravindra Waikar, Sena legislator and former chairman, BMC Standing Committee.