Mumbai: Local residents of Dharavi (Mumbai) successfully halted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) planned demolition of a section of the Mehboob-e-Subhani Mosque in Dharavi. The mosque, located on the 90-foot road in Asia’s largest slum, became the center of a heated dispute after the BMC issued a notice for its demolition, citing unauthorized construction.
In response to the BMC’s actions, community leaders quickly rallied support, organizing peaceful gatherings to voice their concerns. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad played a crucial role in addressing the situation, meeting with the Chief Minister and advocating for the community’s rights. “We urged for the action to be canceled, and thankfully, our voices were heard. Everyone expressed their views peacefully, and the scheduled demolition has been postponed,” she stated.
The local police reported a peaceful atmosphere in Dharavi as residents gathered to demonstrate their solidarity. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 5, Tejaswi Satpute, noted that the crowd dispersed peacefully after being asked to leave, and she urged the community to ignore misleading messages circulating on social media.
ALSO READ: BMC Faces Resistance in Dharavi, Forced to Withdraw Mosque Demolition Order
In a positive turn, the BMC acknowledged the trustees of the mosque, who submitted a written request to handle the matter independently. The BMC agreed to give them a deadline of four to five days to voluntarily remove the disputed construction, a decision welcomed by the community.
