Vadodara: Local Hindu residents of the Bhayli area in the city submitted a petition to District Collector Anil Dhamelia on Monday, demanding that the houses being constructed under the Chief Minister and Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme in Ward No. 10 be allotted only to Hindus. The locals stated that since the area is predominantly Hindu, allotment of EWS houses to Muslims would change the demographics. They also demanded that the Disturbed Areas Act be implemented in the region.

The residents, holding banners and posters reading “Let them live peacefully; do not create a situation where they have to be displaced,” joined the protest in large numbers. The locals claimed they have been living in harmony in Bhayli for years and fear that changes in the area’s demographic composition could disturb the peace.

An EWS-2 type housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has been set up in Bhayli, and the allotment process is already underway. According to reports, more than 450 application forms have been submitted by members of the minority community for 236 houses, while Hindus have submitted over 315 forms. The EWS scheme is located in TP-3 and TP-118. Residents from over 20 nearby societies gathered and held a demonstration at the district collectorate, submitting a memorandum opposing the allotment of these houses to members of the minority community, citing the area’s Hindu majority. BJP councillors also joined the protest.

Bhayli shares a border with Tandalja, which is currently under the Disturbed Areas Act. Therefore, the residents have demanded that TP-118 also be brought under the provisions of the Act, which prohibits the transfer of immovable property in notified areas. DeshGujarat