Relocation of Muslim families on cards as Kapurai residents renew their opposition

Low-cost homes under Basic Services for the Urban Poor scheme have been built at Kapurai and allotted to Muslim families from Sulemani Chawl, where 318 clustered homes were demolished by the VMC.

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The meeting between Kapurai residents and top VMC official came days ahead of Eid on July 6, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. The Muslim families had delayed their plan to take possession of new homes as the locality, so far, has no mosque to offer prayers.

A group of about 25 residents met the Mayor and elected representatives, and also made a representation before VMC Commissioner Dr Vinod Rao, seeking a change in the relocation of the Muslim families. According to VMC sources, in a closed-doors discussion with elected representatives, residents were assured that an “alternate relocation was on the cards”.

Residents have contended that the VMC’s original plan in year 2003, vide a resolution of the General Board, was to demolish the 318 clustered homes in Sulemani Chawl and relocate them to Tandalja — then a growing Muslim area; today, dominated by the Muslim community — or Ekta Nagar.

Officials said that as the years passed by and the settlement remained untouched due to law and order problems in its demolition, government properties in the area were occupied by projects. The residents, however, are relying on the resolution of the VMC, while demanding that the community be shifted to “its own neighborhood”.

Mahesh Pathak, a resident of Kapurai, who led the group that submitted a letter in May opposing the relocation of Muslims said, “We are not against any community. We are in fact suggesting this keeping in mind that even the Muslims do not feel secure in areas where their own community has scanty habitation. If you ask them to choose, they will themselves not want to come here. There is no Masjid in the area, which is a requisite for their religious beliefs.” He added that the decision to move Muslims to areas inhabited by their community is “in the interest of the city”.

“The Hindu and Muslim communities can be friends, but they cannot live with each other. There are inherent differences. In case of obvious quarrels, the entire event gets blown up into a communal clash. Even if there is none, external forces play their part in giving it communal colour. We are only interested in peace. We have not given up our campaign against this decision, but we are waiting and watching as the elected representatives have assured us that they are finding a solution to the problem,” he said.

Representatives of the Muslim families said top VMC officials had already approached them for “talks” to resolve the issue. VMC Commissioner Vinod Rao said, “The task of a Commissioner is to ensure that a maximum number of people get allotted to the best locations. This is more of a collective consensus that we are trying to make. No forceful attempt shall be made to segregate people or to permit people to permit people to discriminate against each other. We will try to build a consensus and houses will be allotted to the best people’s choice.”