Mumbai: Ghulam Raj Sheikh says, Banks do not hesitate to take our money for their deposits but decline to provide us with loan facilities. Mira Road is HRA (High Risk Area) for banks, says Bhaldar.

Chougle recalls that recently he had gone with his daughter who holds a Visa Gold credit Card to a shopping mall. We decided to buy a plasma television set and told the shop owner that we will pay initial payment of Rs 9,500 by the credit card and rest in instalment. The shop owner agreed but when he learnt that we live in Naya Nagar, he backed out, he says.

Ghulam says there are no beer bars, clubs or prostitution rackets in Mira Bhayander. All communities live in harmony, there has never been a communal riot in the town. But, if two or three elements who lived here are caught in anti national activities, is it fair to say that crime in on the rise here.

Mira Road, situated in the Mira Bhayander township on the outskirts of Mumbai had achieved notoriety after the train blasts on July 11 in 2006 after it was widely reported that some of the arrested accused lived in Naya Nagar, a locality with a large Muslim population.

Recently, it was said that Tauqeer, who is allegedly involved in the recent blasts in Delhi and Ahmedabad also lived in Naya Nagar. Those who are said to been involved in the blasts used to live here. In fact, a person like Tauqeer has deserted his family in Naya Nagar seven years ago.

How can the locality be branded as den of terrorist activities as is being done by the media especially the electronic? Bhaldar asks angrily. Is the Gujarati community being looked down because of Harshad Mehta's activities? Ahmed Chougle wonders.

Source : PTI