MUMBAI: A major political controversy has erupted in the city following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) recent demolition of an old shrine located in the Aarey Colony area of Goregaon East.

The civic action drew sharp criticism from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Advocate Waris Pathan, who lashed out at the BMC and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of maintaining an “anti-minority” stance.

In the wake of the rising tensions, SalaamPeople.com reached out to the Sufi Islamic Board—a prominent national organization dedicated to promoting and protecting Sufism in India—to get their perspective on the matter.

AMIM leader Adv Waris Pathan addressing the Media at RA Colony Goregaon East

“Rule of Law Must Be Followed”

Speaking exclusively toSalaamPeople.com, Mr. Mansoor Khan, National President of the Sufi Islamic Board, urged all sides to refrain from politicizing the civic action, stating that the law of the land must be respected.

“First of all, we should not turn this into a political issue,” Khan said. “The BMC demolished this Dargah because it was constructed illegally, without any prior permission or approval from any government agency. Before constructing any religious structure or Dargah, the trustees must secure the proper legal sanctions. Since that was not done in this case, from our perspective, the authorities simply did their job.”

Sufi Islamic Board on Goregaon  Demolition: Dargah on Illegal Land is Unislamic

Illegality is “Unislamic”

Going a step further, Mr. Khan emphasized that encroaching on land or constructing religious structures unlawfully runs contrary to Islamic jurisprudence.

“To build a Dargah or any religious structure on land illegally is fundamentally un-Islamic and goes against the tenets of Shariat,” Khan explained.

To illustrate his point, the Sufi leader invoked a historical and deeply revered event in Islamic history—the Battle of Karbala.

“Look at the example of Hazrat Imam Hussain,” Khan noted. “Before his martyrdom, he explicitly purchased a piece of land for his own burial site and instructed his followers to bury him there. This historic precedent teaches us a vital lesson: we must respect property rights and lawful ownership. We are duty-bound to follow this example.”

An Appeal for Devotees

While defending the legal basis of the BMC’s action, the Sufi Islamic Board president concluded with a humanitarian appeal to the state administration, urging them to find a middle ground that respects the faith of local devotees.

“While the law must be upheld, I have a humble request for the Government of Maharashtra,” Khan said. “They should consider preserving the remnants of the structure and allow common people and devotees access to the site on special occasions, such as the annual Urs. This will ensure that the spiritual sentiments of the people are respected and that they can continue their traditional rituals.”