Eleven residents of ‘Happy Jivan Co-operative Housing Society’ in Vasai have objected to the sale of one of the flats to a Muslim family. Kantaben Patel (55) and her son Jignesh Patel (32), when wished to sell their flat to a Muslim glass merchant Vikarahmed Khan, the residents of the society passed a resolution to keep Muslims out of the building.
The society which has total 16 flats already is a home for two Muslim families, but this decision to not accommodate more Muslim families was taken in the absence of those two families.
The society’s secretary, Jeetendra Jain, said that the decision to not allow Muslims was supported by the majority of the members. “The residents of the first floor, where the Patels stay, have an issue with non-Hindus. We will sort out the issue.”
When a resident of the society was asked why they were objecting a new Muslim resident in their housing society he said, “We want to live in peace. We don’t want to spoil our peace and security with some people who don’t tolerate our culture and tradition. Their food-habits and dress do not match with us and it badly affect on our young generation.”
Vikarahmed Khan, who owns a glass showroom in Vasai, said he had faced such rejections before as well.
