Local residents in Vadodara are protesting against the allocation of a house to a Muslim family under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana government housing scheme. The controversy centers around the residents' claim that this allotment breaches the Disturbed Areas Act.

The protests are taking place at Motnath Residency, a housing complex in the Harni area, which comprises 462 units predominantly occupied by Hindu families. The Disturbed Areas Act, enacted by the Gujarat government, requires district collector approval for property transactions in designated disturbed areas. It also prohibits direct property sales between individuals of different religions without clearance, necessitating a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from local residents.

Residents allege that officials ignored the Act during the allotment process, suggesting corruption. Atul Gamechi, a resident, stated, "The Gujarat government has enforced the Disturbance Section here, preventing the sale of homes to Muslims in Hindu colonies. Despite this, officials did not follow the rule and allocated the house to a Muslim family."

He added, "We demand the cancellation of this allotment. We are uncomfortable with a Muslim family living here, as it could lead to tensions. If the authorities do not act, we will protest outside the homes of MPs and civic officials."

In response, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation denied these allegations, explaining that the allotment was conducted via a lottery system before the Disturbed Areas Act was enforced. Dr. Sheetal Mistry, Chairman of the Standing Committee, clarified, "The lottery for this scheme was conducted in 2017, and everyone was eligible to participate. A Muslim woman won the allotment. The paperwork was completed in 2018, before the Disturbed Areas Act was implemented here. Once approved, such allotments cannot be legally canceled. We can only try to persuade the homeowner to leave."

The administration is reportedly trying to convince the homeowner to vacate the property in response to the residents' complaints.