A concerning pattern of "Housing Jihad" is emerging in Mumbai’s slum redevelopment projects, where Hindus are allegedly being reduced to a minority while Muslim residents are becoming the majority, alleged Shiv Sena deputy leader and spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam on Friday. He has called for an immediate investigation and action against the Shri Shankar SRA Project and Oshiwara Paradise 1 & 2 in Jogeshwari West.
Nirupam made these statements during a press conference held at Balasaheb Bhavan. He stated that some developers are deliberately working to increase the Muslim population in Mumbai through SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) projects. He claimed that during redevelopment, Muslim residents are given a majority status through fraudulent means.
According to Nirupam, Muslim developers take charge of slum redevelopment projects and, in collusion with SRA officials, illegally qualify Muslim individuals for housing. In some projects where Hindus were originally in the majority, illegal allotments were made to Muslim applicants, effectively reducing the Hindu population in those areas.
The Sena leader specifically demanded an investigation into two SRA projects in Jogeshwari West, developed by Chandivala Enterprises Pvt Ltd. In the Shri Shankar SRA Project in Shastri Nagar, there were originally only 67 residents, including 7 Muslims. However, after the developer acquired additional land, the final Annexure-2 list showed 123 residents, with a single individual, Rahim Ghaswala, illegally receiving 17 non-residential housing units. Nirupam questioned how a single person could be allotted 17 units when SRA regulations allow only one unit per person.
Similarly, in the Oshiwara Paradise 1 & 2 project by Chandivala Builders, one of the projects already has a Muslim majority. However, in the final Annexure-2 list, one individual was fraudulently allotted 19 houses, which is against SRA rules.
Nirupam alleged that the developer intends to sell all flats or shops exclusively to Muslim buyers, and therefore, an investigation into both projects is necessary. He further demanded a detailed government investigation into all SRA projects handled by Muslim developers in Mumbai, alleging that fraudulent activities in Annexure-2 lists are being carried out to deliberately disqualify Hindu residents and increase the Muslim population in these areas.
Nirupam warned that this could alter Mumbai’s demographic balance and labeled it as a form of Housing Jihad. He urged the government to take immediate action and investigate these allegations.