Controversial 'Halal Lifestyle Township' Ad in Maharashtra's Neral Sparks Political Row
An advertisement for a real estate project in Maharashtra’s Neral, nearly 100 km from Mumbai, sparked a political row, leading the developer to delete the ad.
Marketed as a 'Halal Lifestyle Township,' the housing project has been criticised and accused of being religiously exclusive. The project was allegedly advertised as a residential space for a specific community.
The township, which appeared in the promotional video, emphasised community life, shared values, and a safe environment for youngsters and the elderly. The uproar erupted after former National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanoongo posted the video on X and criticised the initiative.
The video ad featured a woman in a hijab and promoted the township as providing an 'authentic community living' experience. The ad emphasised that children would safely grow up in a 'Halal environment' and mentioned specific religious amenities like prayer spaces. Following the backlash, the builder behind the project took down the video from social media.
Labelling it 'Nation Within The Nation', Kanoongo wrote, 'This is not an advertisement but poison distribution. In the Karjat area near Mumbai, a township with a halal lifestyle is being built exclusively for those of the Muslim faith.' He further mentioned that a notice has been issued to the Maharashtra government.
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, criticised the project's usage of the word 'Halal' and accused it of attempting to 'spread hatred' in society. Speaking with news agency IANS, he said, 'By using such a name and the word Halal, an attempt is being made to send out a particular kind of message. The builders and people involved in this are not working to unite society, but rather to spread hatred and create division.'
Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hegde questioned the purpose of the advertisement and requested the state government to launch a probe into the matter, reported News18. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ajit Chavan accused the developers of promoting 'Ghazwa-e-Hind', reported India Today. Chavan argued that such initiatives threatened India’s secular framework.
He added that such projects have no place in Mumbai or Maharashtra and urged authorities to take stringent action against the promoters, the report added. Amid the escalating debate, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a statement condemning the project's communal positioning and requesting a detailed report from the Maharashtra government, as per PTI.
