Real Estate Agent Apologises for Vegetarian-Only Rental Ad in Tardeo

Real estate agent Bhavesh Kaware on Sunday tendered an apology to Mumbaikars after a social media advertisement for a rental house in Tardeo restricted exclusively to vegetarians triggered widespread public backlash.

Kaware issued the apology after meeting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray at his residence, Shivteerth in Shivaji Park, on Sunday afternoon.

“I apologise to Mumbaikars – if I have hurt anyone’s sentiments, I am sorry. I also apologise to the MNS and Amit Thackeray. I do not wish to escalate the controversy. I am giving houses to Marathi (speaking) people and will continue to do so. I did not expect the advertisement would create such a controversy,” Kaware told reporters.

The row erupted last week after Kaware posted a rental listing for a flat in Tardeo open only to vegetarians. The post drew sharp reactions online, with critics accusing the agent of creating rifts between communities by foregrounding food preferences, religion, and caste in housing transactions.

Following the public reaction, Thackeray summoned Kaware to address the issue. MNS sources said Thackeray told Kaware that at a time when Mumbai residents were raising concerns about civic and social issues together, such advertisements create unnecessary discord and distract from the city's pressing problems.

“Bhavesh, you were doing good work. You should not go after anyone’s religion or caste. What you said in the advertisement was wrong,” MNS leaders quoted Thackeray telling Kaware. Kaware had previously been felicitated by Thackeray as a social media content creator two years ago.