BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya and several party workers were taken into police custody on Saturday after staging a protest over a mosque near Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.
Some BJP supporters arrived at the protest carrying hammers, demanding the removal of what Somaiya described as an illegal structure. He maintained that the mosque had been constructed without the necessary permissions and alleged that authorities, including the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), had declared it unauthorised. He also asserted that the structure would eventually be demolished.
Somaiya targets opposition parties
Somaiya accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan, Sharad Pawar and the Congress of pursuing what he described as Muslim appeasement politics. He alleged that these leaders would attempt to protect the mosque.
On Thursday, Somaiya had announced a ‘hammer’ rally for October 24, demanding action against the structure. He argued that its location near the airport’s VIP arrival gate and taxi stand raised security concerns because of the site’s proximity to sensitive airport facilities.
“The mosque’s presence near a sensitive airport facility raises security concerns,” he alleged. Somaiya also questioned the delay in taking action despite communications with government agencies and the MMRDA.
In a legal notice dated October 14, sent to Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) chief administrative officer Vishnu Jha through his advocate Jitendra G Sharma, Somaiya sought the mosque’s urgent removal.
The notice referred to an MMRDA letter dated September 8, which reportedly asked MIAL to address the complaint. It claimed that the authority had not granted permission for the structure and that the area’s Integrated Development Plan did not designate any land for public worship.
AIMIM objects to protest
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan criticised Somaiya’s actions, arguing that people had been offering namaz at the site for years. He said the mosque’s trustees had approached the court and issued a notice to the MMRDA, making the dispute sub judice.
“Suddenly, these hateful BJP workers, Kirit Somaiya, came along with nothing better to do and claimed it was an illegal encroachment,” Pathan said, calling for police action over the alleged threats.
Source: India TV News
