Retired officers of Israel’s secret agency, Mossad, by offering its ‘security services’ to some famous temples in Maharashtra, had given birth to a new controversy. Now, huge investments by Israeli companies in Maharashtra has raised serious questions if in the guise of Israeli companies, Mossad is tightening its grip on Maharashtra, the Mumbai edition of Urdu daily Rashtriya Sahara reported on January 7.
This revelation is not only a great cause of anxiety to Muslims and other anti-Israeli quarters, but has created heightened consternation even for several NGOs that are battling opposing forces to conserve and protect the rights of rural land-holders and agriculturists of Maharashtra.
They are confronted with the new sensational development that an Israeli company Jerusalem Economic Corporation has purchased thousands of acres of virgin agricultural land in Thane district, (an extended suburb of Mumbai city) and plans large scale building construction of shopping malls and commercial complexes. This has created a big stir in the village communities of Thane.
Knowledgeable circles have informed that the Israeli company has purchased land that was in active cultivation, to the value of US$ 330,000,000 (thirty three crore/ 330 million US dollars or about 1500 crore Indian rupees) in Thane district. It has become an open question, why an Israeli company has shown so much interest in a tribal area of Maharashtra.
Basically, Jerusalem Economic Corporation is a financial company which invests in world’s select countries. Its international operations CEO is Peter M. Donovan, though on Indian origin US citizen, Hari N. Kapadia, too is on its board as Research Director. To head its project in Maharashtra, the company has appointed a Jewish manager, Awdad Shamir, as its CEO.
Local people and farmers are greatly enraged on the plans of this Israeli company to turn the rural area into a concrete jungle. The big question mark is how did this Israeli company managed to purchase such a huge land area which is being in active cultivation as rural land.
Is this company working on the instructions of the Israeli government or Mossad in making inroads into Maharashtra? These questions are being actively discussed in various circles.