Mumbai: Mahim Dargah Trust Issues Statement About Demolition Drive

Mumbai, 24th March 2023: The Mahim Dargah Trust on Thursday issued a statement following a demolition drive in the Mahim area of Mumbai on Thursday after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had warned about the structure in his ‘Padwa Melawa’ speech at Shivaji Park on Wednesday evening.

In a statement, Mahim Dargah and Haji Ali Dargah Trustee Suhail Khandwani said that it is a chilla and not a dargah as claims are being made. He said that the action on Thursday was taken on the unauthorised structures.

The authorities destroyed an “unauthorised” building at Mahim Bay on Thursday. The action was taken a day after MNS chief Raj Thackeray spoke about the alleged structure coming up.

Khandwani further said that if the authorities would have contacted the trust and told them to remove it, they would have done it by themselves. “We are law-abiding citizens and would obey the law. The chilla is intact. The followers gave flowers and “chadars” as offerings. There was never a dargah there. People have belief, and they visit at the spot. Makhdum Shah Baba used to visit there, and hence devotees gather to pray at the spot,” he added.

According to reports, a six-person team was assembled for the demolition work on Thursday with the assistance of staff from the Mumbai Police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.