A total of 150 structures linked to the ‘Muslim land mafia’ and unauthorised schools are being used to grab land, he says
NEW DELHI — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders seem to never tire of raising Islamophobic issues and coining new slogans to demonise and marginalise the Muslim community in the country.
Close on the heels of ‘Corporate Jihad’ — a term coined by Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane to describe the ongoing investigations in this week’s case involving a unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik — senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Sunday alleged that a “school jihad” is taking place in Mumbai. He claimed that unauthorised schools were being used to grab land and spread what he described as “jihad.”
Kirit Somaiya is the vice president of the party’s Maharashtra unit.
‘School jihad’ is the latest in a series of anti-Muslim campaigns launched by those in the ruling party in the state and at the Centre. Other terms include ‘love jihad’, ‘spit jihad’, and ‘land jihad’, to name a few.
Addressing a press conference at his residence in Mulund, Mumbai, Somaiya said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had identified 164 illegal schools operating across the city.
He alleged that nearly 150 of these institutions are linked to what he termed “Muslim land mafias.” He claimed that several schools are functioning without proper permissions or official recognition.
“Muslim land mafia has not only built schools, but at some places they have converted them into masjids. They want to spread jihad,” he said, adding that such activities have allegedly been ongoing for over 15 years. He further claimed that a large number of these schools are concentrated in areas like Govandi, Malad, and Kurla.
Interestingly, of the 15 years mentioned by Somaiya, the BJP or its allies have been in power in the state for most of that time.
The BJP leader also accused civic authorities of enabling the situation through long-standing corruption.
“For the past 20 years, corruption has been happening in the BMC. First, land was acquired by mafias, and then gradually developed. After land jihad, now it’s school jihad,” Somaiya alleged.
He linked the issue to illegal encroachments and claimed that these institutions were part of a broader pattern of land grabbing in the city.
The BJP leader also alleged that the schools were being used to accommodate “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” in Mumbai. However, he did not present documentary evidence publicly during the press conference.
He maintained that these are private institutions functioning outside the regulatory framework.
Somaiya said he has raised the matter with the Maharashtra Home Department and BMC officials. According to him, inspections have already been carried out by the education department following his complaint.
“I have been assured that there will be action against these schools,” he said, adding that steps could be initiated as early as next week.
