Shiv Sena Targeting RJ Malishka? A Parody Later, BMC Sends Her Notice

Mumbai: The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM or BMC) has issued a notice to 65-year-old Lilly Mendonsa over the detection of Aedes mosquitoes’ breeding site at her house. Mendonsa is the mother of famous radio jockey Malishka. Malishka had recently roasted the Shiv Sena-run MCGM over potholes and terrible infrastructure through a parody song. The song highlighted Mumbai’s plight during monsoons – from potholed roads to slow trains. “Mumbai, tula BMC var bharosa naay kaay?" (Mumbai, don’t you trust the BMC?) the song had asked.

Following the release of the song, Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamana targeted Malishka, asking her, “Malishka, tula dengue var bharosa navy kaay?" (“Malishka, don’t you trust Dengue?"). Yuva Sena members even went a step further and urged the municipal commissioner to file a Rs 500-crore defamation suit against 93.5 Red FM.

The BMC has issued a notice under section 381 B of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act after mosquitoes were allegedly found breeding in a routine survey at her sixth floor flat at Sun-rise Apartments in Pali Naka. “We have detected Aedes mosquitoes breeding (dengue transmitting mosquitoes) in the clay bowl kept under the plant pot kept in front of the door. Indoor breeding is also detected in plant pots kept in the window," the notice issued on July 18 by the MCGM Public Health department stated. The timing of the notice is being questioned.

Despite repeated attempts, Malishka could not be reached for comments.

The internet, however, united in solidarity with the radio jockey. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first reactions came in from the Congress leaders:

But as the news spread, the outrage crossed party lines and celebrities and common people alike began to question the actions of the Sena and the BMC: