CIDCO plans to demolish an illegal dargah near the upcoming international airport following complaints from Hindu organisations | File Photo

By Dhairya Gajara

Mumbai: After multiple right-wing Hindu organisations raised allegations against a dargah near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport of being a “threat to national security”, City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) has assured action against illegal structures near the airport. The dargah located on a hillock near the airport, is alleged to be encroached by painting a few stones in 2012 and has now expanded to over one-acre of land.

On Monday, Hindu IT Cell, a Hindu organisation claiming to “fight for Hindu rights via legal means”, filed a grievance with the Ministry of Home Affairs alleging that a dargah has suddenly come up near the Navi Mumbai international airport. The complaint alleged that the encroachment upon a hill at Pargaon Village in Panvel started around 15 years ago, which has now taken the shape of a dargah spread across one-acre of land comprising of around six rooms with tin shade roofs.

“An illegal structure adjacent to the upcoming international airport is a threat to national security. Knowing the strategic importance of Mumbai, it poses a high security threat. Although a notice has been served by CIDCO to remove the illegal structure, there has been no action taken by the authorities,” read the complaint by Hindu IT Cell.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, another right-wing Hindu organisation working to declare India as a Hindu Rashtra, had written to CIDCO in March 2023 demanding demolition of the dargah alleged to be illegal. On Thrusday, the organisation again wrote to CIDCO demanding immediate action against the dargah. The complaint alleged that the encroachment was started by painting a few stones with green colour and it has now expanded into a one-acre property with a compound, fountain, dome, water tanks, outhouse, guesthouse and a parking lot.

This story was originally published in freepressjournal.in. Read the full story here.