Mumbai: A scuffle broke out between locals in Mumbai’s Dharavi and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on Saturday after a civic body team reached there to demolish an alleged illegal portion of a mosque. The civic body’s move triggered tension in the area, prompting authorities to deploy heavy police force in the Asia’s largest slum.
The BMC officials reached the 90 Feet Road in Dharavi, a densely-populated colony, to pull down the illegal portion of the 25-year-old Mehboob-E-Subhani masjid this morning. However, soon a large group of locals reached there and stopped the civic officials from entering the lane where the mosque is located. According to reports, some people also pelted stones on BMC vehicles.
Mumbai: The Muslim community in Dharavi strongly opposed the demolition of the Mehboob-e-Subani Mosque. Protesters damaged a vehicle belonging to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation that arrived for the demolition. Tensions escalated as local residents blocked the road, creating a… pic.twitter.com/qJksF0HiKH
— IANS (@ians_india) September 21, 2024
Locals protest at Dharavi police station
Hundreds of people also gathered outside the Dharavi police station and squatted on the road to protest against the demolition of the mosque by the civic body. In view of the tense situation, a large number of police personnel have been deployed at the spot to prevent any unforeseen incident. Situation is presently under control, officials said. Following the commotion, a delegation from the mosque, BMC officials and Dharavi police also held a meeting to resolve the issue.
Politics over Dharavi mosque demolition
Meanwhile, Congress MP from Mumbai North Central Varsha Gaikwad and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Milind Deora met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the demolition of the illegal portion of the mosque. Gaikwad said that the Chief Minister had assured the demolition process would be stopped after discussion with the concerned officials.
मुख्यमंत्री @mieknathshinde जी से धारावी के महबूब – ए – सुबानिया मस्जिद को आई बीएमसी की डिमोलिशन की नोटिस को लेकर मुलाकात की और लोगों की भावनाओं से अवगत कराया। मुख्यमंत्री से सकारात्मक बातचीत हुई। उन्होंने कहा की वे संबंधित अधिकारियों से बात करेंगे और आश्वासन दिया की तोड़क… pic.twitter.com/SiAH4KSAbv
— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) September 21, 2024
Reacting to the incident, BJP leader Nitesh Rane said that some miscreants did not let the BMC officials raze the illegal portion of the mosques an vandalised he vehicles of the civic body. “If these people want to show this kind of hooliganism, they should go to Pakistan or Bangladesh. This will not be tolerate in Mumbai,” he said.
Rane further said that if the BMC is not allowed to carry out the demolition drive at the mosque, he will get a temple constructed beside the mosque.
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