Chandigarh: In an act of defiance against the Indian Supreme Court’s directive to halt demolitions, a BJP candidate in Haryana highlighted bulldozers at a recent electoral rally in Jind, which also featured an appearance by Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath. This event underscores the party’s ongoing use of bulldozer imagery, notably associated with Adityanath’s administration’s contentious actions, particularly against Muslim communities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the rally took place in the Narwana assembly constituency where the BJP candidate, Krishan Bedi, displayed several bulldozers at the venue as a show of alignment with Adityanath’s policies. During his speech, Adityanath promoted the “UP model” of governance, which involves using bulldozers as a tool against crime and riots, a tactic that has been criticized for targeting Muslim communities disproportionately since he assumed office in 2017.
Adityanath defended the effectiveness of this approach by claiming it has prevented communal riots during his tenure. He stated that potential rioters are deterred by the threat of having their family’s assets seized, reinforcing the bulldozer as a symbol of his administration’s strategy.
The event has brought attention to the ongoing political narrative in Uttar Pradesh, where bulldozers symbolize the government’s approach to law and order, used both literally and metaphorically to intimidate and punish. Despite the Supreme Court’s recent intervention to stop such demolitions, the rally demonstrates the BJP’s continued endorsement of these tactics, raising concerns about the disregard for judicial authority and the targeted impact on specific communities.
This incident highlights a troubling pattern in Indian politics where judicial mandates are overlooked, and actions that might exacerbate community divisions are not only continued but publicly celebrated.