Amid Delhi Gymkhana Club row, Harsh Goenka highlights discrimination at Breach Candy Club: 'No Indian can be on...'

As the debate over the future of Delhi’s colonial-era “elite” clubs continues following a central government order asking them to vacate land granted in 1913 for an indefinite period, Harsh Goenka, chairman of the RPG Group, spoke of another similar institution in Mumbai where Indians are still discriminated against.

What is Breach Candy Club?

The Breach Candy Club, officially known as the Breach Candy Swimming Bath Trust, dates back to the 19th century and still maintains its colonial legacy where Europeans have more privileges than Indians.

“Mumbai never tires of talking about inclusivity and progress. But a few decades ago, Indians were not allowed membership of the Breach Candy club in Mumbai. It is surprising that even today no Indian can be on its board of trustees – only a European living in Mumbai is allowed,” Goenka said in a post on X.

“Irony? The land belongs to the Maharashtra government,” he added.

Harsh Goenka was a member of the Breach Candy Club

The post soon went viral and while many expressed shock to learn that Indians were still being discriminated against in their own country, one user X pointed out that Goenka was a member of the club and was also the administrator of the Breach Candy Hospital.

“You are a member of the BC club and a trustee of Breach Candy Hospital. The BC club gave up club land for the hospital to build a new wing. So you swim in the pool and sit on the hospital board as a trustee and then throw in the patriot card to get a few likes. Hypocrisy,” asked the user.

In response, Goenka said, “I have a problem why Indians are not allowed to be in the committee. Why only Europeans? This colonial mindset has to go. And yes, I am a patriot.”

Goenka is not alone; many others on social media also pointed out the elitism still practiced by the Breach Candy Club, which is considered the most elitist in a country where Indians were not allowed to become members even after independence until the early 1970s.

“Delhi Gymkhana Club is not just for the super rich”

Meanwhile, as the legal battle over the eviction notice continues, a member of the Delhi Gymkhana club on Monday rejected claims that it caters only to the “super rich”.

Rumnita Mittal, a member of the club, said nearly half of the permanent members are from the armed forces and bureaucracy, who use the space after retirement.

“The first problem I think is mostly that we have to dispel the myth that the Gymkhana Club belongs to super-rich people with big cars or lots of money, which is a complete myth. Regular members, 50% are armed forces, retired personnel. Then there are the bureaucrats. The bureaucrats who made the political decisions. They are the ones who sit in this Mittal environment after retirement and have an open coffee. ANI.

Why does the government want the land of the Delhi Gymkhana club?

The Lands and Development Authority under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs directed the club to hand over its 27.3-acre premises by June 5, saying the land was required for “urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public interest project”, including strengthening defence-related infrastructure.