top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been...

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been reduced to an annual ritual of tree-planting drives and clicking selfies for social media, though 90 pc of the saplings don’t survive even a day. “Only the government knows where those trees really are,” said Raj sternly. He recalled a "Blueprint of Maharashtra’s Development" he had proposed in 2015, in which he advocated how development without environmental sensitivity is hollow. Justifying, he said that the consequences are visible where roads, bridges and infrastructure projects are hailed as achievements, but even a short spell of rainfall can paralyze entire cities. Referring to recent reports on farmers returning from the fields after 10 am due to the scorching heat, Raj said that the worsening climate crisis has become an everyday reality. Citing official statistics, Raj claimed that extreme heat has caused productivity losses of nearly USD 159 billion and slashing of 160 billion work-hours annually in recent years. He mentioned the World Bank estimates that India’s GDP could plummet by 2.5-4.5 pc while 57 pc of the country’s districts sheltering 76 pc of the population stare at serious climate-related crises. Taking a swipe, he said while the governments boast about growth figures and economical rankings, they are silent on the staggering costs of environmental destruction. He questioned the development model “whether flooded cities, washed-away crops and unbearable summers” genuinely indicate progress. Claiming that Maharashtra was increasingly becoming unliveable for upto 8 months in a year, he said excessive monsoon rains disrupt rural life and urban floods cripple cities, while extreme heat make normal life a torture in summers in both urban-rural areas. Targeting the Centre, Raj alleged that nearly 173,984 hectares of forest lands were diverted in the past 11 years for mining and infrastructure projects to benefit the PM’s single favourite Adani Group. He said that these lands amount to 1,730 sqkm, or equivalent to the area of 16 Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) that is spread over barely 104 sqkm. Dissolve state wildlife board: Aaditya Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has accused the Maharashtra government for issuing a permit to carry out mining activity in the sensitive tiger corridor between the Tadoba-Andhari and Indravati sanctuaries housing the big striped cats. In a strongly-worded letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Thackeray sought his immediate personal intervention, sacking the Maharashtra State Board for Wild-Life (SBWL), revoking the permit, and probe against the Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) M. Srinivasa Reddy for the alleged lacunae. Aditya’s two-pager says the permit has been granted for “scientific exploration and excavation/systematic recovery of low-grade iron ore in existing mines in villages Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round Parsalgondi, in the Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli district”. Last January, Aditya – MLA from Worli – had first raised the issue saying that the proposed mine would create only 120 jobs, including 32 permanent, and the estimated output is pegged at 1.1 million tons in a year. Referring to two letters of Reddy – on April 28 and May 21 – the SS (UBT) leader claimed that in communications to the state government, the PCCF had changed his stance on the issue. Aditya said that in the first letter, Reddy had effectively opposed the government plans for mining activity but in the second letter, he took a somersault, ostensibly due to government pressures or some commercial interests, “the U-turn is disgraceful and detrimental to India’s national interest” – and this abrupt shift in stance must be investigated thoroughly. In view of the contrary stance of the PCCF Reddy, entrusted with protecting the wildlife but failing to defend the NTCA and NBWL, point to serious malfunctioning of the SBWL, and hence it must be dissolved, besides reviewing all its decisions in the past three years, particularly those pertaining to hazardous activities in sensitive areas, demanded Aditya. 444 tigers roam in 11,000 sq.km As per the Status of Tiger Report (2002), and the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-2026, the state boasts of 444 tigers prowling in the wild along with other menacing creatures. The state’s total protected wildlife network of 88 Notified Areas of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves - including 6 dedicated to the striped big cats – is spread over 11,092 sq. kms as per current data.

Fearless, Always in Command

On May 6, 1929, a child was born in Cavel, between Kalbadevi and Girgaum, Mumbai, who would later inspire confidence in policing and make a difference to people's lives. He would instil fear among Mumbai's underworld, communal rioters in Gujarat and terrorists in Punjab with his strategic planning and tactics. That is Julio Francis Ribeiro for you, who will now turn 97 years.


After his studies at St Xavier's School, Mumbai, he completed B. Com at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics and then did Law at Government Law College.


Starting his career as a Sub-Editor with National Standard, he worked there for two years. He then moved on as an Article Clerk with Crawford Bayley for one year.


Joining the Indian Police Service in 1953, Julio Ribeiro had an illustrious career. Posted out of Mumbai at the age of 24, he worked in various districts of Maharashtra and returned back to Mumbai at the age of 40.


He was on deputation to the Central Reserve Police Force for six years from 1973 to 1979 and was the Deputy Inspector General CRP in Hyderabad. Thereafter, after four- and-a-half years in Pune as Deputy Police Commissioner, he was posted in Mumbai as DCP in Zone 3 that included Shivaji Park. Thereafter, he became the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai from 1982 to 1985.


Meteoric Journey

After that, his journey and rise has been meteoric. He moved to Delhi as Director General Central Reserve Police Force in June 1985 but was soon shifted to Ahmedabad as Director General of Police Gujarat, during the communal riots. Having successfully dealt with the problem by locking up the trouble makers, he was made Special Secretary to the Government of India’s Home Department. Before he completed even six months in that position, he was personally called by the then Prime Minister and was sent to Punjab as Director General of Police at the height of terrorism in that State.


Black Thunder

As DGP, the success of Operation Black Thunder - 1 which took place on the night of 30 April 1986 and lasted till the morning of 01 May, 1986 by the National Security Guard, brought him into world focus. At least 122 suspected extremists and terrorists were apprehended at the Golden Temple, Amritsar.


In 1986, he was named India’s Man of the Year by The Telegraph of Calcutta and the fortnightly Frontline published by the Hindu of Madras. New York Times, Time and Newsweek of America also mentioned his contribution to fighting terrorism in Punjab.


He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1987 in recognition of his services to the nation.


Assassination Attempt

On October 3, 1986, Julio Ribeiro, the then-Director General of Punjab Police, survived an assassination attempt by Khalistan Commando Force militants at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters in Jalandhar. Cleverly done, militants dressed in police uniforms and armed with guns arrived in a police jeep at the huge entrance gates at around 6.45 am. Ribeiro who was taking a walk with his wife in the mess compound ducked for cover. Ribeiro received minor injuries while his wife was hospitalised. Two sentries were shot dead. The assailants abandoned the police jeep and escaped in a waiting getaway truck.


Later, Ribeiro became Advisor to the Governor of Punjab when KPS Gill took over as DCP Punjab.


The second part of the operation, code named Operation Black Thunder-2 was conducted from May 10-19, 1988 by the National Security Guard. The tactic of cutting off communication and food supplies for nine days worked and extremists surrendered.


After retirement, Ribeiro served as Indian Ambassador to Romania from 1989 until 1993.


In August 1991, Ribeiro was attacked and wounded in a Bucharest assassination attempt by gunmen identified as Punjabi Sikhs.


Known for his commitment to disciplined service, wherever he was posted, he inspired confidence among the people by treating them with respect, dignity and as equal citizens of the country and getting them on his side. Always open to dialogue, he reasoned things out with his own police force, political and trade union leaders, and the judiciary with clarity and purpose in communication.


Self-Made Man

Having lost his father, Assistant Postmaster General, Mumbai, at the age of eight, Julio Ribeiro is a self-made man. Arranged by his mother, he met his wife Melba, and got engaged two months later. They married on April 25, 1959 at Gloria Church, Byculla, Mumbai. After 63 years of married life, he lost her in 31st October 2022 at the age of 84.


As a child, while residing at Colaba, Julio Ribeiro would play cricket and hockey at the Oval Maidan. After joining the Police Force, he would play various sports with the policemen until the age of 35-40. Thereafter, he would go jogging till the age of 60.


A vegetarian, Julio Ribeiro goes to Church once every week, alternates between his two daughters Anna Saldanha and Nina Engineer for Sunday lunch.


He has authored his memoir 'Bullet for Bullet: My Life as a Police Officer,' in 1998. Julio Ribeiro's second major book is ‘Hope for Sanity: Selected Writings of Julio Ribeiro 2002–2021’, published in 2023. It is a collection of his articles, columns, and reflections on policing, governance, and civic life in India.


(The writer is a resident of Mumbai. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page