MUMBAI, Dec. 16 -- Addressing a press conference on Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accused the Mahayuti government of misleading Mumbaiites through its proposed regulatory framework for the redevelopment of old pagdi buildings, alleging that the policy would benefit builders and landowners while pushing long-time residents out of the city. Urging citizens not to fall for what he called poll-time announcements ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Thackeray said, "People should try to understand the truth behind these announcements. They want to throw people out of Mumbai." The pagdi system is a pre-Independence tenancy arrangement prevalent in parts of south and central Mumbai, under which tenants paid a one-time premium to landlords and continue to occupy premises almost permanently by paying nominal rent. Redevelopment of such buildings has long remained stalled due to disputes between landlords and tenants, many of whom are protected under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act. Last week, deputy chief minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the state would frame rules to redevelop pagdi buildings, calling it a "historic decision" and part of a move to make Mumbai "pagdi-free". Thackeray alleged that the real intent behind the policy was to evict hundreds of thousands of residents. "The announcement is meant for landowners and builders, not occupants," he said, referring to Eknath Shinde as "Fakenath Mindhe" and dubbing the BJP the "Builder Janata Party". Thackeray demanded that tenants in pagdi buildings be given the legal status of 'occupants' and questioned which authority would oversee the process. He recalled that during the MVA government, an ordinance had been introduced granting residents redevelopment rights if owners failed to act within six months, though the decision was later challenged in court. He also objected to provisions stating that occupants would get the same carpet area after redevelopment. "If a building is redeveloped, why should residents not get additional space?" he asked. Listing MVA-era decisions, Thackeray said Rs.600 crore had been set aside for police housing and ownership homes were proposed for retired police personnel in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, alleging that the current government had taken no action on these fronts. He also said housing issues faced by government employees at Bandra government colony had been ignored....