Mumbai on Edge: BJP, Congress Engage in War of Words Over Bangladeshi 'Infiltration'
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A bitter row has erupted in Mumbai's Malvani area, a hotbed of communal tensions ahead of the BMC polls, over alleged 'infiltration' of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. The dispute between the BJP and Congress has led to a dramatic showdown on the streets of Malvani, with BJP workers taking out a protest against the alleged presence of foreigners in the area. The controversy centers around Malvani, a Mumbai suburb, where Guardian Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha has accused Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh of encouraging the infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Lodha, who has been vocal about the issue of illegal constructions and Rohingya infiltration, claimed he was threatened by Shaikh, sparking tensions. The BJP workers, demanding action against Shaikh, staged a protest and a sit-in outside the Malvani police station. They chanted slogans, including 'Drive out Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, Save Mumbai.' The protesters also sought the registration of an FIR against Shaikh for allegedly threatening Lodha. The issue has a long history in Malvani, with a special committee report revealing 10,000 unauthorized structures in the area. The state government has been cracking down on illegal constructions, but the issue of Rohingya infiltration has become a contentious point between the BJP and Congress. The Congress, however, has accused the BJP of attempting to polarize voters on communal lines ahead of the BMC polls. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad alleged that the BJP was trying to exploit the issue for electoral gains. Congress workers staged a protest outside the office of Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam, which was later dispersed by the police. The controversy comes as the BMC polls are approaching, and the issue of Rohingya infiltration has become a sensitive topic in the city. The demolition of 135 unauthorized structures in the Malvani area earlier this month has added to the tensions, with the BJP and Congress locked in a bitter battle over the issue.
