Mumbai: More than 16 NGOs in the city have come together under an umbrella organisation, Jagrut Nagrik Manch (JNM), to "bring a change in the political culture". JNM will organise a meeting on every 26th at the Gateway of India to plan out its agenda for the next month.

To start with, JNM has decided to take up two issues. That of electing a chief executive officer (CEO) for Mumbai and the illegal political banners and posters on city roads.

"Mumbai does not have a face. Who is responsible for Mumbai? Mumbai needs a CEO who can take decisions regarding the citys needs," said Hansel DSouza, a JNM official.

He said, "The CEO can be called either mayor or municipal commissioner. We do not mind, but we want the person to be elected directly from among the people of Mumbai. He must have executive powers to take decisions. After our first meeting, we will write to the state as well as the Union government requesting them to think on the idea of a CEO for Mumbai. We will not see which political party is offended by it."

DSouza informed that JNM will also demand removal of illegal political banners and posters from city roads by January 20,2009."We will give BMC a notice to remove the posters. If they fail to act, we will blacken the posters," he said.

He, however, refused to compare JNM with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on the matter of issuing public diktat. "They broke the law, we will not. It will be a token protest," he said.
Source : Central