 leader Sanjay Nirupam accuses Muslim appeasement under SS UBT's rule.){kind=link}
Housing Jihad is set to rock the landscape of Mumbai and Maharashtra politics. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has ignited a firestorm by alleging a systematic attempt to alter Mumbai’s demographic balance through “Housing Jihad.” He claims that certain Muslim real estate developers are misusing the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects to increase the Muslim population in key areas.
Thereby, effectively transforming Hindu-majority societies into Muslim-majority ones.
The accusation has led to heated debates, with the ruling government now facing pressure to investigate the claims. The controversy is not just about housing but about political appeasement, illegal settlements, and a larger plan to shift Mumbai’s identity. As this issue unfolds, questions arise about the role of real estate developers and the government’s silence. Are they simply another chapter in Maharashtra’s volatile political landscape?
Housing Jihad – Allegations of Demographic Manipulation in Mumbai
Shinde Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam claims Muslim builders are indulging in housing jihad in Mumbai.
He said –
"These builders are active in Muslim dominated areas
They are illegally trying to fit Muslims in SRA projects.
This is making Hindus a minority in many areas, while… pic.twitter.com/Z4GIKMn1xr
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) February 21, 2025
Sanjay Nirupam has accused Muslim builders of strategically ensuring that people from Muslim communities receive most of the housing units under SRA projects. Furthermore, he states that out of 600 active SRA projects in Mumbai, approximately 10% are handled by Muslim developers.
As per Sanjay Nirupam, every single one of them is engaged in “demographic manipulation” of Mumbai!
देशभर में लव जिहाद और लैंड जिहाद ने बाद अब मुंबई में हाउसिंग जिहाद का नया दावा किया जा रहा है…दरअसल ऐसा दावा किया है शिवसेना शिंदे गुट के नेता #संजय_निरुपम ने….@sanjaynirupam का कहना है कि मुंबई के कई इलाकों में कुछ मुस्लिम बिल्डर मिलकर खुलेआम हाउसिंग जिहाद चला रहे है…. pic.twitter.com/JNUGAqqHEv
— Arun Suvarna कट्टर शिवसैनिक 💯 % Follow Back🇮🇳 (@assuvarna7) February 22, 2025
He cited specific cases from neighborhoods like Govandi, Mankhurd, Kurla, Saki Naka, Bandra, and Oshiwara. In these neighborhoods, allegedly, Hindu residents were replaced by Muslim beneficiaries through fraudulent means. In one such case, a Muslim real estate developer allegedly manipulated records to allocate 30 houses to a single family, violating SRA regulations that state that each eligible family is entitled to only one home.
He asked for immediate investigation and action against the Shri Shankar SRA Project and Oshiwara Paradise 1 & 2 in Jogeshwari West, Mumbai.
Nirupam also pointed to electricity bill manipulations, where the number of houses eligible for rehabilitation mysteriously increased over time.
For instance, official records from 2021 showed 45 slum dwellings eligible for rehabilitation in a locality in Oshiwara. By 2022, the number had jumped to 82, and in 2023, it had grown to 95. He claims such fraudulent increases directly benefit Muslim families while displacing Hindus.
"मुंबई में बिल्डर्स की ओर से हाउसिंग जिहाद चल रहा है, इसमें मुस्लिम बिल्डर्स ज्यादा शामिल हैं"
◆ एकनाथ शिंदे गुट के नेता संजय निरुपम ने कहा @sanjaynirupam | Housing Jihad | #Jihad pic.twitter.com/rfRxE17LY7
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) February 22, 2025
Even more alarming is his claim that some beneficiaries of these schemes are illegal Bangladeshi migrants, further complicating the issue. If true, this raises concerns about national security, potential vote-bank politics, and the unchecked settlement of foreign nationals in India’s financial capital.
Political Firestorm: Minority Appeasement or Genuine Concern?
Alleging "Housing Jihad" in Mumbai, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam says, "Housing Jihad is being run by Muslim builders through Slum Rehabilitation Projects in Mumbai. These builders are making arrangements to accommodate more Muslims in Hindu housing societies. Muslim builders… pic.twitter.com/nlALVG4b8s
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2025
Nirupam’s allegations have triggered a political battle in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena under Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has taken a strong stand, demanding an investigation. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction finds itself cornered as the revelation directly implicates their policies.
HM Amit Shah recently accused Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of engaging in blatant minority appeasement. He was referencing past decisions to allocate large sums of taxpayer money for mosque construction and waqf board activities.
Having so much poison in your heart is not good for your health.
Not individual, the issue is important.
It’s a burning issue in Mumbai.
I have cited just two test cases.
In one case, the developer has got passed 19 structures in the name of one family.
All Muslim.
Documents show… https://t.co/FKS5ahFvfW— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) February 22, 2025
These remarks highlight a broader concern among right-wing politicians. Muslim minority appeasement is leading to the unchecked expansion of illegal settlements, further fueling religious demographic shifts in key urban centers.
VIDEO | On Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam alleging 'Housing Jihad' in Mumbai, AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan (@warispathan) says, "They are lying and this is complete nonsense. First, they alleged love jihad, then they alleged land jihad and now they are alleging… pic.twitter.com/xdhpWBPYz5
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 21, 2025
On the other hand, AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan has dismissed Nirupam’s claims as “communal fear-mongering.”
He insists that terms like “housing jihad” are divisive and aimed at vilifying an entire community. Pathan argues that these allegations have no factual basis and are part of a political conspiracy to polarize voters ahead of upcoming elections.
Implications of Houding Jihad for Mumbai and Maharashtra
If Nirupam’s claims are true, Mumbai is witnessing a silent demographic shift driven by Housing Jihad. The real estate manipulation and illegal settlements will ensure long-term implications for the city and state.
- Hindu Displacement: Allegedly, Hindu families are being systematically replaced in certain regions. Thus, it could lead to the loss of traditional community spaces, businesses, and cultural heritage.
- Illegal Migration and Security Threats: The alleged presence of illegal Bangladeshi settlers raises national security concerns. If SRA projects are being misused to provide housing to illegal immigrants, it poses a direct threat to Mumbai’s law and order situation.
- Electoral Engineering: If “peacefuls” benefit disproportionately from state-sponsored housing projects, it could be an attempt at vote-bank politics. Thus, ensuring long-term electoral dominance.
- Economic Impact: If real estate developers manipulate SRA rules, it not only distorts the market. Moreover, it also denies legitimate beneficiaries their rights. Middle-class and lower-income Hindu families might find themselves pushed out of their neighborhoods.
At the core of this debate is whether the new Maharashtra government under CM Fadnavis will take proactive or corrective action. Will the BJP announce a formal investigation into the claims? Will SS UBT survive this Housing Jihad scandal? Only time will tell!