Mumbai: BMC Officials Demolish Illegal Dargah In Arabian Sea A Day After MNC Leader Raj Thackeray Issues Warning

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today (Mar 23) demolished a dargah off the coast of Mahim a day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray issued a warning about the structure in his 'Padwa Melawa' speech at Shivaji Park.

The 'mazar' like structure being constructed unauthorizedly off the coast of Mahim in Mumbai was removed by district collectorate, civic and police personnel.

According to BMC officials, the ''mazar' and the structure around it had come up illegally on revenue department land.

The 'mazaar', covered with green cloth, garlands and flower chadars, used to attract Muslim devotees who would wade through knee-deep sea water for a few metres to visit the site and offer prayers there.

A six-member team was formed for its demolition with the help of personnel from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Mumbai police.

''The BMC provided machinery for demolishing the illegal structure, and Mumbai police gave security,'' Mumbai City Resident Collector Sadanand Jadhav informed media.

Other officials said the team set up by the collector had visited the site in the morning, after which demolition procedures began.

Addressing a rally in Mumbai on Wednesday, Thackeray said that the dargah was being built illegally in the Arabian Sea and warned that the MNS would build a Ganpati temple at the same place if it weren't razed soon.