Tension prevailed in Mumbai's Dharavi as a team of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation reached the area, which is Asia's largest slum, to demolish the "illegal" portion of a mosque. A large number of police personnel have been deployed the densely-populated area to prevent any untoward incident in view of the prevailing situation.
"A team of BMC officials from G-North administrative ward reached the 90 Feet Road in Dharavi around 9 am to demolish alleged illegal portion of Mehboob-E-Subhani masjid. Soon, a large number of local residents gathered at the spot and stopped the civic officials from entering the lane where the mosque is located," a police official said.
Hundreds of people also assembled outside the Dharavi police station located there and squatted on the road to protest against the BMC's action. A delegation from the mosque, BMC officials and Dharavi police are currently holding talks to resolve the issue, the police official added.
Meanwhile, MP Varsha Gaikwad met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and discussed the issue. "Today I met the Chief Minister regarding the BMC's demolition notice to Mehboob-e-Subaniya Mosque in Dharavi and conveyed the sentiments of the people. I had a positive conversation with the Chief Minister. He said that he will talk to the concerned officials and assured that the demolition proceedings will be stopped," she wrote on X.
BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya said he has written a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding action against unauthorized mosque and "land jihad". "Building and expanding unauthorized mosque in Dharavi is promoting land jihad. When government employees come to demolish unauthorised constructions, Uddhav Thackeray, Sena and Congress leaders instigate riots by provoking the Muslim community," he alleged.