BJP Stages Protest Demanding Action Against Congress MLA
Tensions flared in the Malvani area of Mumbai as Bharatiya Janata Party workers and leaders held a significant protest near the office of Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh. The demonstration, which took place on Sunday, saw prominent BJP figures including MLAs Atul Bhatkhalkar, Pravin Darekar, Manisha Chaudhary, and Sanjay Upadhyay participating actively.
Allegations of Infiltration and Threats
The protest was triggered by serious allegations made by Mumbai Suburban's Guardian Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, who claimed that Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh had been encouraging the infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in Malvani. Lodha accused Shaikh of playing with the country's security and stated that the MLA had threatened him and his family over his actions against illegal constructions in the area.
Lodha had been consistently following up with the administration regarding these security concerns, which led to actions being taken against illegal constructions. Following the alleged threats, Lodha filed a formal complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner, escalating the political confrontation.
Protest Demands and Political Reactions
During the protest, BJP workers raised slogans including Drive out Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, Save Mumbai and We will not allow anyone to play with the country's security. The party leaders also staged a sit-in protest at the Malvani police station, demanding that an FIR be registered against MLA Aslam Shaikh for the alleged threats.
Speaking at the protest, MLA Sanjay Upadhyay emphasized the seriousness of a minister being threatened by an MLA. He stated, We are opposing this by following the law, but we can also respond in a language that Shaikh will understand. Upadhyay added that infiltration would not be tolerated and strict action must be taken against those supporting infiltrators.
MLA Pravin Darekar confirmed that the sit-in protest was specifically aimed at pressuring police to register an FIR against Shaikh. Meanwhile, MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar framed the conflict as a fight of the people versus the Congress regarding the security of the nation, denying it was merely a BJP vs Congress clash.
The protest saw participation from representatives of Hindu society as well, indicating broader community involvement. In response, State Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal accused the BJP of raising controversial communal issues to polarize society during elections.
