Shri Chavan is truly secular in his outlook and every utterance and action of his bears this out. I recall an incident when Shri Hafizka was being felicitated on his election as the General Secretary of the integrated Bombay Pradesh Congress Committee and Shri Chavan was in the Chair. Two Muslim speakers expressed their joy and satisfaction that Shri Hafizka would safeguard Muslim interests. Shri Chavan reacted sharply and said that he was pained to hear that in his State some Muslims expected their Muslim representatives to protect their interest. He said it was his duty as the Chief Minister to protect the rights and interests of all minorities. The proper thing would be for Mr. Hafizka to evince interest in Hindus and for the Hindu leaders zealously to guard Muslim interests. This simple but quick and forthright expression of his sentiments and politically the most desirable attitude towards an entirely non-communal and nationalist stand in everything evoked loud applause.
Shri Chavan is intensly human in his outlook and is very quick in coming to grips with any problem. When you meet him and discuss any problem—big or small—he displays an unusual capacity for understanding and soon comes to a decision.
Shri Chavan has also been taking keen personal interest in the housing problem. In Bombay city alone several housing colonies have come up during the past three years. New flats have been built not only for Government employees but for a large number of middle class families. A programme of liquidation of the slums in the city is underway and tens of thousands of tenements for low income groups are being put up. In the provision of housing for Government employees top priority is being given to the needs of the poorest, Class IV, employees. New one-room tenements are being built for slum-dwellers. Before the end of the Third Five-Year Plan, Bombay will be able to do away with several slum areas which are at present a blot on the fair name of this industrially prosperous city.
In matters of foreign policy, though the Chief Minister has not spoken often, his pronouncements have been unequivocal and well informed and have indicated a keen understanding of the International situation. His recent statement in the Assembly following demonstrations near the Belgian Consulate in Bombay is the best illustration of this. Like millions of people in the country he was shocked and upset over the murder of Mr. Lumumba. While the people had every right to express their feelings in a peaceful manner, he said, any violence or damage to foreign consulate premises could not be tolerated.
