Now Reading: Vegetarians-only housing ad in Mumbai sparks food apartheid row
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Vegetarians-only housing ad in Mumbai sparks food apartheid row
A viral Instagram video by Mumbai real estate agent Bhavesh Kaware has sparked outrage after he claimed a Rs 6.5 crore 2BHK flat in Tardeo would be sold only to vegetarians. Social…
The Story in Brief
A viral Instagram video by Mumbai real estate agent Bhavesh Kaware has sparked outrage after he claimed a Rs 6.5 crore 2BHK flat in Tardeo would be sold only to vegetarians. Social media users called it "food apartheid" and said it showed overt social discrimination. The Times of India and National Herald report that similar instances have occurred before, including Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Emraan Hashmi being rejected by housing societies. The controversy highlights the clash between Mumbai's cosmopolitan food culture, where fish and meat are staples for Marathi, Christian, and other communities, and property rules that restrict buyers based on diet.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that this is about Marathi pride versus outsiders misses the point. The real estate agent is exploiting a loophole, not enforcing tradition. Mumbai’s housing market has long used vague society bylaws to exclude based on diet, religion, or caste. This is about property values, not food culture. The test will be whether the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority or the Bombay High Court steps in to declare such conditions unenforceable under the Right to Housing.
Sources (2): nationalheraldindia.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
