A township project in Karjat, near Mumbai, has sparked controversy after it was promoted as offering a “Halal lifestyle” exclusively for Muslims.
The issue came to light when BJP leader and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo shared a promotional video of the project on X (formerly Twitter).
Calling it divisive, Kanoongo wrote, “This is not advertisement, it is poison. In Karjat, near Mumbai, a township is being built only for people of the Muslim faith, offering a Halal lifestyle. This is nothing less than a ‘Nation within the Nation.’ A notice is being sent to the Maharashtra government.”
The video shows a woman in a hijab saying, “When you are forced to compromise on your family’s principles in society, is that right? At Sukoon Empire, you will find authentic community living, like-minded families sharing the same values, children growing safely in a Halal environment, and elders being respected and cared for. This investment secures not just your money, but also your family’s future.”
Kanoongo’s post triggered heated debate online. Some social media users accused the project of encouraging segregation, while others argued that Muslims often face discrimination in housing, which forces them to create their own spaces.
One user, Rohit Tantia, commented: “This is wrong but why aren’t you talking about the fact that Muslims aren’t allowed in many societies? If discrimination doesn’t end, such projects will keep happening.”
Another user wrote, “You won’t let Muslims live with everyone, won’t rent them houses, don’t want them as neighbours, don’t sell them plots. But when they make their own colony, you object too. What do you really want?”
On the other side, several Hindutva supporters backed Kanoongo. One comment read: “They want a ghetto, but an upscale one. Normal Muslim areas are congested. Rich Muslims want to move out, but most upscale areas are Hindu-dominated, so they want their own township.”
A more aggressive reaction came from a group called Shoorveer program, which posted: “Wow, halal society, where 60+ can marry 6-year-old child, just like their ideal did back in time.”
