MUMBAI, Sep 5: A housing project called ‘Sukoon Empire’ located in Neral, approximately 100 kilometres from Mumbai, has got into a major political controversy after its promotional material surfaced on social media platforms.
The real estate development, marketed as offering a ‘Halal Lifestyle Township’, has drawn sharp criticism from various political parties and rights organisations who allege it promotes housing segregation based on religious identity.
The dispute gained momentum when National Commission for Protection of Child Rights member Priyank Kanoongo shared the project’s promotional video on social media, condemning it as creating a ‘Nation within the Nation’.
The advertisement featured a woman wearing a hijab who described the township as providing ‘authentic community living’ for families sharing similar values, emphasising facilities such as prayer spaces, community gatherings, and an environment where children could develop safely within a Halal atmosphere.
Kanoongo characterised the promotional material as ‘poison distribution’ rather than legitimate advertising, specifically criticising that the Karjat area development was being constructed exclusively for members of the Muslim faith.
He confirmed that formal notice had been issued to the Maharashtra government regarding this matter.
Political reactions emerged swiftly across party lines. Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde from the Eknath Shinde faction expressed strong objections to the marketing strategy, demanding immediate withdrawal of the promotional video and calling for a comprehensive state government investigation into the project’s intentions. Hegde questioned whether such targeted religious marketing violated constitutional principles guaranteeing equality.
The Bharatiya Janata Party intensified the rhetoric considerably, with party spokesperson Ajit Chavan characterising the development as an attempt at ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’.
Chavan argued that such residential projects had no legitimate place in Mumbai or Maharashtra, describing them as a direct challenge to India’s secular constitutional framework and demanding strict action against the developers.
Additionally, BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar wrote to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding immediate legal action against the builders and an urgent ban on advertisements promoting religious exclusivity.
Bhatkhalkar termed the project an example of ‘land jihad’ and declared it ‘extremely harmful to the peace, law, and order of the state’.
The National Human Rights Commission has formally intervened in the controversy, taking cognisance of complaints that the township was being advertised along communal lines.
The NHRC has requested a detailed report from the Maharashtra government, placing the project under intensive scrutiny as authorities must now examine whether legal or constitutional provisions have been violated.
Following the widespread backlash, the builders responsible for the project removed the promotional video from their social media platforms. The controversy has expanded beyond political circles into broader discussions about the ethics of community-specific real estate marketing and its potential impact on social harmony.
Interestingly, criticism has also emerged from within the Muslim community itself. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, condemned the project’s use of the term ‘Halal’ and accused developers of attempting to ‘spread hatred’ in society.
The cleric urged people to remain cautious and avoid falling into traps that ignite animosity among communities under the guise of property business.
Vishva Hindu Parishad national spokesperson Vinod Bansal also reacted strongly to the housing project, labelling it a ‘mini-Pakistan’ and stating that ‘the Hindu society and Mother India have suffered many such wounds’ that ‘can no longer be tolerated’.
The episode has triggered wider debate about community-centric real estate marketing practices, with critics arguing that overtly religious positioning could deepen social divisions. While developers frequently highlight lifestyle-specific amenities to attract particular buyer segments, opponents contend that explicit religious marketing crosses constitutional boundaries.
With both the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the National Human Rights Commission now actively involved in the matter, the Maharashtra government faces mounting pressure to clarify its official position and take decisive action regarding the controversial development. (UNI)
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