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A major political and administrative controversy has arisen over a religious structure located near the busiest and sensitive Terminal-2 (T2) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the country’s financial capital Mumbai. Former Bharatiya Janata Party MP and senior leader Kirit Somaiya, terming this structure as completely unauthorized and a serious threat to national security, has made a direct announcement of taking out a huge ‘Hatuda Rally’ on October 24 with the aim of demolishing it. Somaiya’s direct allegation is that this mosque has been illegally erected on about 2,000 square feet of land very near the VIP arrival gate and taxi stand of the airport. After this controversy came to light, there was a stir in the corridors of Mumbai Airport Administration, local police, security agencies and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Kirit Somaiya took out an aggressive protest march along with his supporters and local workers near Terminal-2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Thursday. During the march, they raised slogans against the lax attitude of the security agencies, the Municipal Corporation and the airport operator. Somaiya directly raised the question as to how such a huge permanent structure was erected without any prior permission in such a sensitive and high-security zone with international flight movement. He said that despite several rounds of talks on the subject with government agencies and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and submission of evidence, the administration remained idle. Somaiya alleged that due to political appeasement and administrative negligence, the security of the country’s busiest airport has been put on hold, which will no longer be tolerated.
In this matter, Kirit Somaiya has not only fought a war of words, but has also started tightening the legal noose. Somaiya told his advocate Jitendra G. A detailed legal notice was sent through Sharma to Vishnu Jha, Chief Administrative Officer of Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (MIAL) on October 14. In this notice, clear reference has been made to his earlier complaint lodged on September 5. Quoting documents, the notice claims that this unauthorized construction has been done in a huge area of about 2,000 square feet, just 50 meters away from the Very Special (VIP) Arrival Gate of Terminal-2. In the notice, a blunt demand was made from the airport administration that this illegal structure, which is a blatant violation of security standards, should be removed immediately, otherwise direct action will be taken with the cooperation of the public.
As per international airport security standards and security protocols of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), there should not be any unauthorized or public gathering place within 100 meters of the terminal building, runway perimeter and VIP entry/exit gate of any international airport. Kirit Somaiya underlined that the VIP arrival gates and taxi stands are areas where thousands of foreign and domestic passengers, diplomats and VVIP personalities pass through daily. At such a place, a religious structure with movement of unknown people at a distance of 50 meters is like a burglary in the tight circle of security check. This unauthorized gathering can create serious distress during any potential terrorist threat, suspicious activity or emergency evacuation. This is the reason why questions are now being raised on the silence of the security agencies at many levels.
After Kirit Somaiya openly announced to take out ‘Hathoda Rally’ on October 24 and demolish illegal constructions, Mumbai Police and Airport Security Wing are on full alert mode. Heavy police force and additional riot control vehicles are being deployed to maintain law and order around the airport premises. Intelligence units have been activated to prevent any kind of communal tension or deterioration of the law and order situation. Political analysts believe that this issue may gain prominence amid the upcoming local body elections and political turmoil in Mumbai. Now all eyes are on whether the Airport Authority and MMRDA take any administrative action against this alleged illegal structure before the October 24 rally or whether a new situation of conflict is seen on the airport road.