BJP Leader Pankaja Munde Claims Denied House For Being Marathi In Mumbai

Pankaja Gopinath Munde, the national secretary of the BJP, asserted on Friday that she encountered housing discrimination in Mumbai because of her Marathi background. Her statement came in the wake of Trupti Deorukhkar, a Mumbai resident, alleging that she was denied office space in the Mulund area due to her Marathi ethnicity.

In a Facebook video, the BJP leader shared her housing search experience, saying, "I wanted to vacate my government residence and purchase a house. In many places, I came across this notion of 'we do not rent to Marathi people.' Even someone like me had this experience," Pankaja Munde disclosed.

Reflecting on her encounter, the BJP leader remarked, "This is deeply regrettable. Considering the current political and societal climate, there seems to be a disquiet in society." She emphasized her belief that Mumbai's essence lies in its diversity, encompassing every language, caste, and religion, and that the city welcomes "everyone."

Pankaja Munde added, "However, if certain buildings are refusing to rent to specific individuals, it is indeed unfortunate."

Following the video's release, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) pledged support to Pankaja Munde and requested the name of the housing complex that denied her a flat.

MNS leaders also demanded an apology from the secretary of the building where Trupti Deorukhkar was denied office space. The secretary and his father were subsequently arrested by the Mulund Police and later released on bail.

Furthermore, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, urging the formation of legislation against discrimination based on religion, caste, and dietary preferences. Despite Pankaja Munde belonging to a different political party, the MNS leader affirmed her as a Marathi woman deserving full support.

He informed the Chief Minister that in 2016, during his tenure as a corporator, a resolution was passed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to withhold occupancy certificates from those who refuse housing based on religion or dietary habits. Although the resolution was sent to the Urban Development department, there were no state government notifications on the matter, as per the MNS leader.