In a recent statement, NCP leader Nawab Malik criticized the BJP for allegedly singling out the Muslim community in the guise of identifying Bangladeshis, just before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Malik specifically targeted Mumbai BJP chief Amit Satam for his claims of increased illegal Bangladeshi presence in certain areas, suggesting that attention should be directed towards sending Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh first. He highlighted the BJP’s alleged strategy of polarizing voters by creating a Hindu-Muslim divide during the ongoing BMC election campaign.
Malik, speaking after the release of the NCP’s election manifesto, accused the BJP of using the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration as a recurring political tactic for several decades. He emphasized that the process of identifying and deporting illegal immigrants falls under the legal jurisdiction of both State and Central governments, managed by the Mumbai Police and the courts. Malik alleged that the BJP raises the “Bangladeshi” issue primarily during election seasons to sway voters.
Furthermore, Malik criticized Amit Satam’s understanding of Mumbai’s demographics, pointing out the disconnect between his claims and the ground reality. Despite Satam’s tenure as an MLA, Malik sarcastically questioned why Satam fails to acknowledge the significant Muslim voter population in his own constituency. Satam had earlier raised concerns about the settlement of Bangladeshis and Rohingya infiltrators in Mumbai, particularly in areas like Malvani, Malad, Mankhurd, Deonar, and Kurla, which he claimed were supported by political interests.
