A tense situation unfolded in Mumbai’s Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, on Saturday after a large crowd gathered to protest a planned demolition of an alleged illegal portion of a mosque. The incident occurred when officials from the G-North administrative ward arrived at the 90 Feet Road in Dharavi to carry out the demolition of a portion of the Mehboob-E-Subhani mosque.
However, upon their arrival, a significant number of people assembled on the road, sitting down in defiance of the civic body’s action. Varsha Gaikwad, the Congress MP from Mumbai North Central and the head of the Mumbai Congress, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her concern, stating that the BMC sent bulldozers despite assurances from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to halt the proceedings.
Gaikwad emphasized the need to avoid hurting the sentiments of Dharavi’s residents and urged both the Chief Minister and the BMC Commissioner to maintain peace and postpone the demolition. She underscored the unity of Dharavikars in seeking peace and confirmed their ongoing communication with the administration and police.
By midday, the situation began to de-escalate as trustees of the mosque engaged in discussions with officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Police personnel were deployed to prevent any further incidents. Gaikwad subsequently confirmed on X that the demolition action had been cancelled, highlighting Dharavi’s commitment to social equality and unity, and emphasizing the residents’ ability to maintain restraint even in challenging situations.
The trustees of the mosque, in a written request submitted to the BMC’s deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner of the G north division, pledged to remove the allegedly encroached portion within four to five days. The civic body accepted their request.
This incident highlights the delicate balance between development and the preservation of religious and cultural spaces within densely populated areas like Dharavi. It underscores the importance of open dialogue and cooperation between authorities and local communities to avoid potential conflicts and maintain peace and stability.
