The Mumbai unit of the BJP Minority Morcha has warned shops in Mahim to stop stocking Pakistani products.
The party has sent letters to shops that were allegedly selling products from Pakistan, most spices. The letter said: It has come to our notice that some shops in Mahim are selling Pakistani masalas and other cooking ingredients. We hereby issue a strong warning: immediately stop the sale of all Pakistani products.
The letter added that shops found selling Pakistani goods will face 'serious consequences and will be held fully responsible for their actions'. “Failing which, we, as responsible citizens, will be compelled to act,” the letter concluded. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Mahim police station.
Former Corporator from municipal ward 190, Sheetal Gambhir, led the group that visited shops and warehouses on Monday. Agnelo Fernandes, general secretary of the Mumbai unit of the BJP Minority Morcha, said, “We have given the shops a deadline to destroy or throw away the products. If they do not do so, we will vandalise the shops,” said Fernandes.
Mahim residents said the Pakistani products sold in a few shops are spices and salwar kameez sets. “However, these products are not directly imported from Pakistan. The goods arrive via Dubai,” said Farooque Dhala, a Mahim resident.
Last week, the Shivaji Park police station registered a case against nine BJP workers, including Akshata Tendulkar, president of the Mahim Assembly constituency unit, for allegedly abusing and assaulting Muslim hawkers in the Dadar market area. The complaint was filed by a hawker who alleged that Tendulkar and her group had asked assistants about their religion. Tendulkar has said that she made visits to the market after complaints that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were among the hawkers in the market.
