Leftist organisations, politicians and environmental activists have been going berserk since the authorities started cutting trees at the proposed site of the Aarey Colony for the Mumbai Metro car shed project last evening.
Social media has been filled with outrageous reactions and remarks by those supporting the activists and their action. There have been protests and section 144 has been imposed in the area to prevent clashes. Last evening the Bombay HC had dismissed all petitions against the tree cutting and had given the authorities the go-ahead.
Amidst this scuffle and chaos, the activities of some ‘activists’ have been drawing hilarious reactions. ANI had shared the image of an activist protesting against the tree felling by ‘hugging’ a tree with a sad expression.
Mumbai: An activist was seen hugging a tree at the entry into #AareyForest from Marol Maroshi Road where Section 144 has been imposed. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/7cKJmIO3Rx
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2019
The tree she was she hugging was reportedly at the entrance to the Aarey colony and was not even marked for felling. The Tree number 614 is mentioned in the Tree Authority Order but it is not listed to be cut off.
614 Number Ped Pe Latki Hai Use To Katna hi nahi hai ??? pic.twitter.com/8pcLWvSixz
— Rohit Vertex Goswami ??? (@rohit_vertex) October 5, 2019
The social media platform that has somewhat being fed up of self-proclaimed ‘activists’ virtue signalling about the environment while ignoring the plight of common people and the necessity of sustainable development saw some hilarious reactions to the activist’s act.
Yeh activist kahin manglik to nahi hai ?
— The-Lying-Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) October 5, 2019
Can’t stop crying ? https://t.co/uioCZ6oEoc pic.twitter.com/vvEMd6Xu7W
— Spaminder Bharti (@attomeybharti) October 5, 2019
The famous Akshay Kumar meme asking for ’50 rupees cut’ was also used by many.
— कुछ मत बोलो Secularism हैं (@India8Heart) October 5, 2019
Amusingly, even the police seems oblivious to the activist hugging a tree, perhaps because the act is outside the area where restrictions are in place.
Twitter users even pointed out that the tree number 614 the activist is hugging is not marked for cutting.
Aarey activists don't even know which trees they want to protect!!!! pic.twitter.com/aTgQ2JvBEm
— Raju Das | ৰাজু দাস (@rajudasonline) October 5, 2019
Btw tree she’s/he’s latched onto is not in the list https://t.co/0pb2AX8Fza
— मिर्चा ग़ालिब (@mirchagalib) October 5, 2019
कानू ज्योतिषी बताएं रहलं की सनीचर के दिन पेड़ के चिपक के खड़ा रह त मनोकामना पूरी हो जाई… https://t.co/CwBLGasWLd
— Yashwant Deshmukh ?? (@YRDeshmukh) October 5, 2019
It is notable here that a large number of people on social media do support the metro car shed project as it is intended to reduce pollution and help the overcrowded city with some much-needed options for public transport. Despite the government’s assurance that three times the number of trees felled will be planted, some vested interests have been trying their level best to stall the project.
The vain protests and virtue signalling by people who never pause to think about the environment before using gas-guzzling SUVs, air conditioning and other personal luxuries have been called out on Twitter.
