Mumbai: The Supreme Court’s ultimatum to the State government and the setting of a stiff two-week deadline for the removal of encroachments on the offshore land of the Haji Ali dargah premises, on Monday, drew a strong reaction from those whose business will be hit by the order.
“If we are evicted, we will all be finished, what will our children eat, what will we do, where will we go? Will they be able to take the shrine to another place or what,” asked Abdulla Raheem, a 56-year-old who with his three children sells flowers and offerings to those visiting the dargah for the past two decades.
Asked about the alternatives which the government could offer to them after the two-week transition time given, Mohammed Shaukat, who is going to be affected said, “It is highly unlikely that the same business could be run elsewhere. This is nothing but a move to target religion,” Mr Shaukat said.
Visitors to the dargah came out in support of the ‘encroachers’. “Would the government be in a position to feed them, take care of their families back home, educate the kids and support their future?” a visitor asked.
The affected sellers, about 15 in all, questioned the SC order saying, “We are only doing our jobs, we are not out there stealing or putting a gun to people’s head in the name of religion or fighting for anything other than our right to existence and management of our livelihood.”
What lies in store
Ibrahim Yusuf, who is among the few vendors to posses a valid licence to sell at the offshore end of the dargah, expressed concern at what was set to unfold in the days to come. “We should be concerned about the needs of the dargah more than their livelihoods. Owing to the strong belief in the dargah, an alternative was suggested to remove encroachments except the ones which did not deal with selling of the ‘ phul-chadar’ , on the sanctum sanctorum,” Mr. Yusuf said.
The vendors believe that the number of the people coming to the dargah would also be affected by this decision. “People come from all places and ensuring the availability of basic things like food, water, refreshments is really important here. It is a 1.3 km stretch that has to be walked upon, in the middle of the sea and people of all ages need some things. Instead of removing the encroachers, it would make sense in the government investing in widening of the road that leads to the dargah. It has been widened in the past and it surely can be done again.”
Dargah’s trustee Suhail Khandwani said that they will abide by the court’s order in every possible way. “We have already cleared a large portion of land near the dargah for which the SC praised us,” said Mr. Khandwani adding that over 80 unauthorised structures on 2500 sq metres of offshore land were removed in April.
On Monday, the SC ordered that the remaining structures on 300 sq metres of offshore land should be removed. “The collector will now conduct a survey to find out the details about the structures and the implementation of the order will be carried out by the Special Task Force that consists of officials from the collectors office as well as the BMC,” he said.
