Allegations of forced consent, exploitation surface in Dharavi survey
Congress MP Varsha Gaekwad accuses Adani surveyors of coercing consent to displace poor
Mumbai: Congress Member of Parliament Varsha Gaekwad has leveled serious accusations against the ongoing survey in Dharavi, alleging that senior citizens and disabled residents are being coerced and exploited by surveyors.
In a scathing post on X, Gaekwad claimed that surveyors are preying on vulnerable residents, particularly when younger family members are away, and are forcibly obtaining consent.
Gaekwad's post on X, carrying hashtags like #ModaniHataoMumbaiBachao and #Dharavi included video and audio evidence to support her claims. She stated that an Adani surveyor was allegedly caught on audio instructing a colleague to "hold the hand and put it up" to forcibly obtain an old lady's thumb impression on a consent form. Another family reportedly described how disabled members were harassed and survey numbers were affixed to their homes without their consent.
The MP characterised the alleged actions as "state-sponsored exploitation" and a "fraudulent 'survey'," asserting that the real "master plan" is to "scare, manipulate, and evict" poor families to "gift Mumbai's heartland to one man: Modi's best friend, Adani."
Gaekwad demanded an immediate halt to the survey, declaring, "Dharavi will not bow. We stand with our elders. We stand against Adani Sarkar."
SHOCKING! This is not a survey, this is state-sponsored exploitation. See this video.
— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) July 16, 2025
In Kamala Nagar, Dharavi, when families refused to give in to Adani Sarkar’s lies, they waited till the young were away at work — and then preyed on our elders.
Old, frail senior citizens were… pic.twitter.com/IaCCqfpvDa
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project, led by the Maharashtra government and Adani Group, aims to redevelop one of Asia's largest slums into a modern urban center. However, critical opposition arises from deep-seated concerns over the project's true intent and its impact on residents. Critics argue the project is primarily a profit-driven land grab, not genuine urban upliftment, pointing to alleged coercive tactics during surveys and insufficient rehabilitation plans. Key grievances include inadequate proposed housing (350 sq ft), potential displacement of a vibrant informal economy, and a lack of transparency and resident consultation in the planning and execution phases.
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HC rejects plea seeking permission for protest against Gaza `genocide'
CPM decries court's view
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Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Friday rejected a petition filed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) against Mumbai police's refusal to allow a protest against the alleged genocide in Gaza, and advised the party to focus on domestic issues.
The CPI(M) criticised the court's remarks, claiming that it ignored constitutional freedoms and India's traditional support for Palestinian freedom and statehood.
The party moved the court after the police last month denied the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation a permission to stage a rally at Azad Maidan ground in south Mumbai to protest the "genocide" in Gaza.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad dismissed the petition, stating that the party should concentrate on problems affecting the country instead of focusing on issues thousands of miles away.
Advocate Mihir Desai, appearing for the CPI(M), told the HC that police denied permission on the ground that it could lead to a law and order problem.
But citizens have the right to demonstrate at a spot designated for such events, and the possibility of law and order situation could not be a reason to deny that right, he contended.
The court, however, did not accept the argument.
In a statement, CPI (M) criticised the court's stand.
"The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) strongly condemns the observations of the Bombay High Court bench while rejecting an application by the party to challenge the Mumbai Police's refusal to allow a protest action against the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza," it said.
While rejecting the plea, the court called into question the patriotism of the party, the CPI (M) claimed.
The HC also opined that the party does not understand `what this could do to the foreign affairs of the country' and, instead of taking up issues such as garbage dumping, pollution, sewerage and flooding it was protesting about something happening far away on foreign land, the CPI (M) further claimed.
The HC appeared to be unaware of either the provisions of the Constitution which enshrines the rights of a political party, or the "history of our country and our people's solidarity with the Palestinians and their legitimate right to homeland," the party said.
The HC observations appeared to be "in line with the central government," the CPI (M) said.
Mahatma Gandhi, the national movement and "subsequent foreign policy of independent India" had not flinched from supporting the cause of Palestinian people's right to freedom and homeland, the party said.
The HC also did not take into account "unequivocal condemnation globally against Israeli action and the stated positions of the UN bodies and the International Court of Justice," the CPI(M) said.
