New Delhi, April 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):Criticising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-controlled North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s demolition drive in Indian capital New Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said that this drive is a state-sponsored targeting of poor and minorities.
“This is a demolition of India’s constitutional values. This is state-sponsored targeting of poor and minorities. BJP must bulldoze the hatred in their hearts instead,” former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Opposition parties criticised the anti-encroachment drive held by the BJP-controlled North Delhi Municipal Corporation in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri, with many accusing the BJP of targeting Muslims. CPM leader Brinda Karat came to Jahangirpuri in protest against the demolition, stood in front of one of the bulldozers waving a copy of the Supreme Court order ordering status quo on the matter.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of turning the bulldozer into “a symbol of its illegal power.” “A new bulldozer procession has been taken out. Muslims are undergoing collective punishment. One must fear the curse of the poor. You demolished the shops in front of Mosque, why not in front of Temples? This is a targeted demolition. I condemn it,” said AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi MP. “Muslims and minorities, backwards and Dalits are their target,” Akhilesh said.
AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the only way to end hooliganism in the country was to bulldoze the BJP headquarters. Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary said the anti-encroachment drive was an excuse to poison the discourse among people.
Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan said the demolition of the houses of “a particular community” just to “harass” them in the holy month of Ramadan on the pretext of an anti-encroachment drive will further spoil the atmosphere in the area. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation and condemn the violence.
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