Saturday’s incident echoes a similar occurrence on December 28, when a shrine near Gandhi Maidan in Kurla (West) was demolished in the early hours, citing illegality.
Team Clarion
MUMBAI – A three decades old madrasa and a mosque on Mumbai’s Ghat Kopar-Andheri Link Road were demolished by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ostensibly to widen the street.
The operation against Gulshan Ahmed Raza Madrasa and Masjid Tahira was carried out early amid strict police arrangements. This is the second instance in the city of early morning action against religious structures.
A small temple adjacent to the mosque and madrasa also met the same fate.
Saturday’s incident echoes a similar occurrence on December 28, when a shrine near Gandhi Maidan in Kurla (West) was demolished in the early hours, citing illegality.
Mansoor Sheikh, trustee of the masjid and madrasa near Sarode Hospital, stressed that the the masjid committee had obtained legalisation from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) during the Ghat Kopar-Andheri Link Road widening project. The MMRDA had offered 225 square feet as an alternative, but the mosque officials argued for a larger space, stating it was insufficient for the congregation.
Negotiations between mosque officials and MMRDA were underway, but when the responsibility for widening Golibar Road was transferred to BMC, the civic administration re-evaluated the legality of existing constructions.
Despite challenges in court by the mosque administration, including a notice in 2021 declaring Madrasa Gulshan Ahmad Raza and Masjid Tahira as illegal, the demolition process was postponed. The legal battle continues, with the last hearing on January 11. Next hearing is scheduled for January 25.
Officials of the mosque revealed that Tahira Mosque suffered damage during the 1992 riots. The police had documented the incident, and records exist at the police station, with details mentioned in the Sri Krishna Commission report. The madrasa is registered, and all its documents are legally compliant.
The demolition has sparked outrage within the local Muslim community, questioning the timing and legality of the action. The mosque administration is now poised to challenge the BMC proceedings through legal avenues, seeking justice for the impacted religious community.
