Mumbai Congress Chief Condemns Mhada CEO's Alleged Threat to Protester
Mumbai City Congress chief and Member of Parliament Varsha Gaikwad launched a sharp criticism on Sunday against Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) vice president and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal. The condemnation centers on an incident where Jaiswal, a senior Indian Administrative Service officer from the 1996 batch, allegedly threatened a protester during a public gathering concerning the contentious Motilal Nagar redevelopment project.
Viral Video Sparks Controversy
Gaikwad brought attention to a video that rapidly circulated across social media platforms, capturing the Friday evening event at Goregaon's Ganesh Maidan. In the footage, Jaiswal is seen addressing a gathering of residents when he refers to a protester as 'ghuskhor' from the stage. The term, which translates to 'illegal occupant' in Marathi, was used as Jaiswal instructed police to verify the individual's identity, stating that if confirmed as a 'ghuskhor', the person would be apprehended on the spot.
Official Defense and Context
While Sanjeev Jaiswal remained unavailable for direct comment, a senior Mhada official provided clarification on the matter. The official emphasized that 'ghuskhor' is a standard administrative term within state government agencies dealing with encroachments and slum rehabilitation, devoid of any religious or national connotations. According to the official, a group of individuals attempted to provoke officials and disrupt the event, with most not being legitimate residents of Motilal Nagar.
The official stated: "When one protester refused to provide identification upon police request, the vice president merely asked for verification to determine if he was an illegal occupant of a tenement in Motilal Nagar. The video is being circulated out of context by vested interests. There is a Government Resolution that defines 'ghuskhor' as an illegal occupant. No threats or foul language were used; provocative elements in the audience aimed to create a ruckus."
Residents File Police Complaint
In response to the incident, residents of Motilal Nagar submitted a formal written complaint at the Goregaon police station. The complaint demands legal action against Sanjeev Jaiswal, accusing him of fostering religious hatred, issuing threats, and engaging in illegal behavior. It specifically alleges that Jaiswal targeted a young man named Jalaluddin Kachhwa, who was quietly displaying a placard with demands at the end of the meeting.
The complaint details: "Jaiswal started threatening him, making insulting and racially offensive religious statements. He was accused of being a 'Bangladeshi infiltrator' based on his religious identity, notably his beard. Clear threats were made, such as 'show me your ID, if you are an intruder, I will see you.' Police and security were ordered to forcibly detain him and snatch his ID card."
Political Accusations and Broader Implications
Varsha Gaikwad escalated the issue with a post on social media platform X, linking the incident to broader political and economic concerns. She accused the state government of suppressing democratic rights in favor of corporate interests, specifically naming the Adani Group in connection with the Motilal Nagar project.
Gaikwad asserted: "Surrender Sarkar forcing citizens to surrender democratic rights! Clear proof that Maharashtra's bureaucracy works for Adani. This is the Mhada CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal threatening a resident of Motilal Nagar who was present with placards protesting the takeover of their land by Adani. It seems that once the project goes to Adani, citizens lose all democratic rights and can't protest! The surrender sarkar wants residents also to just surrender to Adani and has deployed bureaucrats to threaten citizens. Do citizens have no rights if the PM's friend comes into the picture? What autocracy is this?"
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions surrounding urban redevelopment projects in Mumbai, where allegations of bureaucratic overreach, corporate influence, and the erosion of citizen rights frequently surface. As the video continues to gain traction online, the incident underscores the delicate balance between administrative authority and public protest in India's financial capital.
