MLA seeks centre for East Indians in Maha

MUMBAI: The long-standing demand for a community centre for Mumbai’s native East Indians was raised in the Assembly session that concluded last week.

The East Indians want the centre to be named after their leader and freedom fighter Joseph ‘Kaka’ Baptista, a contemporary and associate of Lokmanya Tilak.

Raising this in the Assembly, Andheri MLA Ameet Satam said there should be a demarcation of gaothan boundaries and the native East Indian community should be treated on par with other original inhabitants of Mumbai such as Agris and Kolis.

East Indians, who trace their origins to religious conversions by Portuguese missionaries in the 15th and 16th centuries, have opposed plans to declare their villages as slums under the slum rehabilitation law.

“I would like if the centre comes up in my constituency. There are two places that I have shortlisted, but it is for the revenue ministry to take a call on this,” said Satam.

Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP), a community body, said they do not have a place where they can gather for celebrations, and wanted a centre in Mumbai, Thane, Manori-gorai, Vasai and Raigad. “Most of our land was taken away by the government in the name of development,” said Gleason Barretto, founder trustee, MGP.

Two weeks ago, the community demanded an apology from BJP MP Gopal Shetty for neglecting the contribution of Baptista in the freedom struggle.