Mumbai: Amid the controversy over the proposed redevelopment of the Neville D’Souza football ground in Bandra, BJP MLA & minister Ashish Shelar on Thursday hit out at the Shiv Sena (UBT), accusing the opposition of spreading misinformation over the ownership and proposed use of the open space.Shelar said the UBT’s stand that the plot was being sold was incorrect and questioned who had officially named the ground after former Indian footballer Neville D’Souza. “Who gave the name Neville D’Souza to the ground? Was it the BMC, MHADA or the state government?” he asked, adding that he would place the facts before the public at an appropriate time.The matter is currently before the High court and Shelar said he did not want to comment further while the legal proceedings were underway. “Let the court battle end for now. At the right time, I will speak, draw the curtains and bring the truth before the public,” he said.Taking on the UBT over its criticism of the handling of open spaces in Mumbai, Shelar said the opposition should first look at open-space issues in areas where it had influence. He suggested that if the UBT wanted to undertake a “Tiranga yatra” on open spaces, it should begin from Goregaon’s Prabhodankar Thackeray ground.Shelar also questioned the ownership and status of the Dahisar sports complex, asking whose plot it was, who was occupying it and who held ownership rights over the property.On the Bandra ground controversy, Shelar said there was a distinction between developing a plot and selling it. He maintained that the BJP’s position had always been to develop and protect open spaces rather than sell them or convert them into clubhouses.“During the BJP rule, the policy is to develop the space and protect it, not to sell it or make a clubhouse,” Shelar said.The remarks come amid a political row over the future of the Neville D’Souza football ground, with the UBT opposing any move that could alter the character or use of the open space and the BJP maintaining that the land is not being sold.
