Mumbai: Protests erupt in Dharavi over mosque demolition, tensions escalate

Mumbais Dharavi area witnessed unrest as the Muslim community staged protests against the demolition of MehboobeSubani mosque A team of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials had reached Dharavi to demolish the encroachments on the mosque located in one of the citys most densely populated areasBMC had sent a demolition notice stating that they would demolish encroachments but the locals argued that the mosque has been around for 25 yearsMumbais Dharavi area is witnessing unrest as the Muslim community has staged protests against the demolition of the MehboobeSubani mosque A team of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials had reached the area to demolish the mosque located in one of the citys mosthellip pictwittercomFvwbldJTS5mdash Mid Day mid_day September 21 2024Locals when the BMC team reached the spotblocked the road which caused disruptions to traffic The angry protestors vandalised the civic body vehicle by pelting stonesReports indicate that the BMC issued a demolition notice for the MehboobeSubani mosque in Dharavi claiming it was built illegally while locals argue it has stood for 25 years As the BMC team arrived residents blocked the road causing traffic disruptions and protestorshellip httpstcozjEdRRoQsx pictwittercomFsTp6MIR6Cmdash Mid Day mid_day September 21 2024A delegation of the trustees and community members along with the BMC officials conducted a meeting in the presence of police officials at the Dharavi Police StationDharavi mosque demolition Trustees seek time to demolish encroachmentsThe BMC issued a statement which stated that the civic body has agreed to the demand presented by the trustees of the Dharavi mosque seeking four to five days to demolish the encroachmentsThe trustees according to the media statement issued by the civic body requested the Deputy Commissioner of BMC Circle 2 and Assistant Commissioner of North Zone They assured that the encroachment of the mosque located at the 90 Feet road in Dharavi will be removed during this periodThe mosque committee will demolish the illegal portion themselves Dharavi Dharavi MuslimCommunity Bmc Protest MumbaiNews News httpstcozjEdRRoQsx pictwittercomlXDJsE70x7mdash Mid Day mid_day September 21 2024The request made was accepted by the BMC the civic administration directed trustees to remove the structure in the stipulated timeDharavi mosque demolition Varsha Gaikwad met CM ShindePreviously Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad in a social media post stated that she had met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after a notice for demolition was sent She in a social media post had said that she conveyed the sentiments of people She was accompanied by MLA Amin Patel mieknathshinde hellip pictwittercomLmxYAt3k0Wmdash Prof Varsha Eknath Gaikwad VarshaEGaikwad September 20 2024Met CM Eknath Shinde ji today regarding BMCs demolition notice to MahboobeSubania Masjid in Dharavi and conveyed the sentiments of the people I had a positive conversation with the CM He said he would speak to the authorities concerned and assured them that the demolition drive would be stopped she wroteMeanwhile Bharatiya Janata Party BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has alleged that a letter was circulated on the letterhead of the Subhani Mosque appealing to locals to stop the municipal officials who were reaching the religious structure with the police to demolish it at 9 am on SaturdayWho has sent this letter is there an attempt to provoke people I have requested the Mumbai Police Commissioner to investigate the matter the former BJP lawmaker posted in a tweet 9 pictwittercomnXbg6PaAXemdash Kirit Somaiya KiritSomaiya September 21 2024