'We Have To Make Mumbai Bangladeshi-Free': Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde Announces Crackdown Against Illegal Immigrants

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said the state government would take strict action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Mumbai, including verification and cancellation of Aadhaar cards and other government documents allegedly obtained fraudulently.

“We have to make Mumbai Bangladeshi-free. Wherever there are Bangladeshis, they have taken some Aadhaar cards, some government documents. That will be investigated, and all those documents will be verified and cancelled and Bangladeshis will be sent back,” Shinde said.

Mumbai's New Mayor Ritu Tawde Declares Action Against Illegal Immigrants

Shinde’s remarks come days after newly elected Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde made similar statements, declaring that action against illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya hawkers would be a top priority of her tenure. Tawde had said she would convene a joint meeting with police and civic officials to identify and remove illegal hawkers who have allegedly encroached on city roads.

The statements, however, have triggered a political backlash. AIMIM leader Waris Pathan launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the new civic leadership, accusing them of using hateful language instead of focusing on pressing civic issues.

“She has started using hateful language as soon as she came to power. There is no data on how many Bangladeshi infiltrators have been detained or arrested,” Pathan said, reacting to Tawde’s comments.

Pathan said Mumbai was grappling with worsening air pollution, crumbling infrastructure and quality-of-life concerns, and warned against politicising the civic body. He stressed that governance and civic administration should remain the priority rather than controversial rhetoric.

Ritu Tawde was elected unopposed as Mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation earlier this week, ending Shiv Sena’s 25-year control over the civic body and bringing the BJP back to Mumbai’s top municipal post after 44 years. Shinde Sena corporator Sanjay Ghadi was also elected Deputy Mayor unopposed.

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