Maharashtra Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Aslam Shaikh on Monday accused Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha of spreading falsehoods by claiming that Malad legislator had issued life-threatening warnings against him and his family, news agency PTI reported.
No response was immediately available from the minister’s office.
The allegation comes days after Lodha approached Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, alleging that Shaikh was shielding illegal structures and “infiltrators” in the Malvani area and obstructing demolition drives. Lodha had also claimed that Shaikh had threatened him and his family.
“It is my appeal to everyone to listen to my speech, which Lodha himself has shared. The minister is lying when he says I issued a threat against him or his family,” Shaikh told reporters.
He also demanded that a criminal case be registered against Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Ameet Satam, claiming, “He said they would bury me here.”
The Malad West MLA further alleged that Satam has not contributed to the betterment of Mumbai since taking charge.
“From day one, he has been talking about not allowing any Khan to become mayor of Mumbai. In reality, Mumbaikars or political parties will decide the next mayor. It is my request that loose statements should not be made,” Shaikh said.
He also sought details on any action taken by Mumbai cops over abusive slogans and banners put up against him outside a police station, PTI reported.
The controversy has intensified ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Elections, with the city Congress accusing BJP of attempting to create communal tensions to polarise voters.
Earlier, Mumbai Youth Congress workers staged a protest outside Satam’s office. Several protesters were detained after a brief altercation, a video of which was shared by Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad. She alleged that Satam was spreading lies and issuing threats against Shaikh to shield Lodha.
The row escalated after BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar posted on social media on Sunday that the party had held demonstrations in Malvani against Shaikh for allegedly encouraging illegal settlements.
“The BJP will not remain silent until the ‘mini Dhaka’ in Malvani is removed,” Bhatkhalkar said, adding that Shaikh would “pay a heavy price for threatening Lodha.”
BJP has since demanded Shaikh’s arrest, accusing him of promoting a “Malvani pattern that prioritises infiltrators over locals”. Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers accused the BJP of trying to create a Hindu-Muslim divide. BJP supporters continued their protests on Monday, reiterating demands for a first information report (FIR) against Shaikh and raising slogans calling for the removal of alleged infiltrators from Mumbai.
(With PTI inputs)
