The day after the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) used bulldozers to demolish 'illegal' constructions at Haidary Chowk on Mira Road in Thane district, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished encroachments around 40 shops on Mohammed Ali Road in Mumbai, mainly inhabited by the Muslim community.
The MBMC carried out the demolition in the same area where tensions had risen since Sunday due to a clash between two communities after a procession for the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The BMC stated that the structures on Mohammed Ali Road were illegal and the demolition aimed to clear space on the footpaths. According to BMC officials, this action is part of the Chief Minister's 'deep cleaning' drive, targeting small roadside eateries and vendors to keep pavements clean since the first week of December.
The Congress party criticized the bulldozer action, calling it "unconstitutional" and raising concerns about targeting a specific community. Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe emphasized the need for a legal process with hearings and notices instead of using bulldozers.
Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh from Bhiwandi claimed that the government's actions are driven by upcoming elections, targeting a specific community in an attempt to please another. He stated that such actions would backfire and emphasized Maharashtra's historical identity as a land of saints.
