"Dharavi is the real Make in India. It is a manufacturing hub. The nation is shaped by the people of Dharavi, not by brokers. Dharavi is your own land but the government is trying to acquire it through dalals," Rahul Gandhi said at a political rally in Mumbai, addressing a crowd at Asia's largest slum.
As per an interpretation doing the rounds on social media, the Congress leader glorified Dharavi, one of the poorest regions in the world, as the "pride of India". He made the remarks in an attempt to demonize the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group. The Adani Group has since condemned his pitch.
Supporters of the BJP have criticized RaGa for suggesting that Dharavi should continue to endure the same socio-economic conditions it has faced for decades. "The low-rise building style and narrow street structure of the area make Dharavi very cramped and confined. Like most slums, it is overpopulated," a Wikipedia entry says.
The 2018 Superstar Rajinikanth film, 'Kaala', was partly set in Dharavi. Its story dealt with issues of displacement and hegemony.
