The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has halted its plans to demolish an alleged illegal section of a mosque in Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, following large-scale protests from local residents. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad confirmed the cancellation, stating, “Action scheduled for today has been cancelled. We met the Chief Minister last night and urged for this. Everyone expressed their views peacefully.”
Peace Maintained After Gatherings
Deputy Commissioner of Police for Zone 5, Tejaswi Satpute, reported that the atmosphere in Dharavi remains peaceful despite the gathering of a significant crowd on the 90-foot road. “A huge crowd had gathered, but after being requested to disperse, they left the area. I urge everyone not to trust misleading messages circulating on social media,” she said.
BMC’s Initial Actions
The BMC had previously issued a notice for the removal of encroachments on the mosque. The administration indicated that it would typically enforce this notice but decided to allow a 4-5 day grace period after the mosque’s trustees submitted a written request to remove the construction voluntarily.
Official Comments on the Situation
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis referenced a court decision regarding the demolition of unauthorized constructions, noting that the BMC had acted accordingly. He emphasized the importance of maintaining law and order and expressed confidence that the mosque trustees would adhere to their commitment to remove the encroachment.
Political Reactions
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray criticized the situation, suggesting there were attempts to incite communal tensions. “These people are planning to start a Hindu-Muslim riot and divide communities,” he stated, condemning the politicization of the issue and advocating for unity.
