Bulldozer Action In Mumbai After Raj Thackeray’s Ultimatum To Remove Mahim ‘Dargah’

MNS chief Raj Thackeray warned that his party would build a Ganesh Temple on the same site in Mahim if the 'dargah' is not removed.

New Delhi: Mumbai civic authorities flung into action a day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray claimed that a “dargah” came up in Mumbai sea and gave a one-month ultimatum to remove it else a Ganesh temple would be built there. 

On Thursday morning, police and civic authorities reached the spot and cleared encroachment near the said dargah. 

Bulldozers were brought to remove the encroachment amid heavy deployment of police to avoid any untoward incident. 

"Now there is a government that walks on the path of Balasaheb Thackeray. Raj Thackeray raised the issue which was earlier raised by Balasaheb Thackeray. Proceedings have been initiated under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and if any kind of construction has to be done in the sea, then permission should be taken under the CRZ," said Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar. 

Remove Dargah Or We Will Build Ganesh Temple: Raj Thackeray

On Wednesday, MNS chief had claimed that a “dargah” had come up in the Mumbai sea in the last two years and gave an ultimatum to remove the same within one month otherwise his party will build a Ganesh temple at the same site.

While addressing a rally of his party at the Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, the MNS chief played a video of the purported dargah. 

In the footage, apparently shot by a drone, a grave could be seen on an island-like land in the middle of the sea. Two flags were also seen atop poles and some people could be seen praying near the grave. 

During his speech, he also referred to Muslims and said, “I am not a fanatic Hindu...I want people like Javed Akhtar and many more. I want Indian Muslims who speak against Pakistan and tell them our power. Javed Akhtar does that and I want Muslims like him."

Thackeray also said he will renew his campaign to pull down loudspeakers from mosques if the states government does not take any action in the matter.

The MNS chief demanded withdrawal of nearly 17,000 cases slapped on his party workers last year when they launched protests seeking removal of loudspeakers from mosques.