Navi Mumbai: After two days of relentless complaints and multiple follow-ups, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) finally removed a banner promoting rape convict Asaram outside Vashi railway station on Tuesday evening. The removal process, which should have been swift, took nearly two hours and around 25 calls to the concerned officials before action was taken.
Free Press Journal journalist Sumit Sharma, who first highlighted the issue, ensured the banner’s removal by persistently following up with NMMC. He not only made repeated calls to officials but also waited outside Vashi station for two hours until they arrived and took down the controversial banner.
Sharing a video of the removal, Sharma wrote, "Finallyyyy! RAPE convict Asaram's poster has been removed from outside Vashi Station. Had to follow up with @NMMConline officials N number of times."
NMMC Officials Took Two Hours To Reach Spot
In another update, he criticised NMMC for their inefficiency, stating, "Two days after raising the issue, an official finally agreed to remove it. But even after eight hours, nothing was done. At 6:10 pm, I contacted him again, and after waiting outside Vashi Station for two hours, I made sure the poster was taken down."
Sharma further questioned the civic body's work process, writing, "In between, I had to call the official repeatedly to remind him about the poster. Is this how @NMMConline works????"
NMMC Officials Passing The Buck Over Non-Removal
When the Free Press Journal contacted the Vashi ward office, officials declined to comment and redirected queries to the encroachment department. Baburao Kharde, an officer from the department, assured that the banners would be removed immediately.
However, when questioned about why the ward office previously claimed the posters had already been taken down, he failed to provide a clear response, merely repeating assurances without specifying a timeline for the removal.
The banners, which were displayed near Vashi railway station and major bus stops, promoted ‘Parents' Worship Day’ on February 14, an initiative led by Asaram’s ashram. Their presence sparked outrage among citizens, who questioned how advertisements for a convicted rapist were allowed in public spaces.
The campaign, organised by the Saint Shri Asaram Bapu Ashram in Ahmedabad, encourages people to celebrate February 14 as ‘Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas’ instead of Valentine’s Day. The initiative has long been controversial, with critics arguing that it is an attempt to promote Asaram’s ideology under the pretext of cultural values.
