Delhi Violence News, Jahangirpuri Demolition Drive: The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the status quo on the NDMC’s demolition drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area by two weeks. It said that it “will take a serious view of the demolitions carried out after information was given to Mayor”. The court also issued notices to NDMC and others on plea filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. It had stalled the NDMC’s demolition drive on Wednesday just hours after it started after taking note of a plea of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind that buildings of Muslim riots accused are being razed.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, which ordered maintaining of status quo concerning the demolition of buildings in the forenoon, intervened again during the day after it was apprised that the authorities were not stopping on the ground that no official communication has been received by them.
Delhi Violence News Live Updates, Jahangirpuri Communal Violence Live Updates
Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the MCD’s anti-encroachment drive in Delhi’s violence-hit Jahangirpuri, saying “we see the rule of law break down everyday” and soon there will be “no law and no rules”. Read More
Delhi | Congress delegation led by Gen Secy Ajay Maken arrives at Jahangirpuri to meet families affected by demolition drive conducted y'day
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2022
Party's Imran Pratapgarhi, a delegation member says, "We'll meet the affected families. Later, we will submit a report to Sonia Gandhi." pic.twitter.com/S8WnpvX0fO
Supreme Court halts demolition drive in Jahangirpuri for next two weeks, says, “will take a serious view of the demolitions carried out after information was given to Mayor”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, while rubbishing claims that only one community is being targetted during demolition drives, cited the example of Khargone in Madhya Pradesh. “Allegations that only one community is targeted is incorrect. In MP, which has become topic of all debates, 88 of those affected are Hindus, I’m sorry I’ve to bifurcate, but I’m being compelled to.”
On Kapil Sibal seeking the Supreme Court to stay demolition drive until further orders, the bench says that it cannot stop the demolition drive in the entire country.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, while saying that the process of demolition was just to instill fear in people’s minds, said: “Encroachments are wrong. What’s happening is you are associating Muslims with encroachment.” To this, Justice Rao asked as to whether any property belonging to Hindus was demolished during the drive, according to Bar and Bench.
Senior Advocate Dave says police and civil authorities are bound by the Constitution and not by letters written by a BJP leader and this is a sad scenario.
Sr advocate Dushyant Dave says the matter raises far-reaching questions of constitutional and national importance. He also says this isn’t an issue confined to Jahangirpuri; If this is allowed there will be no rule of law left.
Dushyant Dave said that all the homes in Jahangirpuri are more than 30 years old, while the shops are 50 years old. “We are in a democracy and how can this be allowed in this country,” Dave said arguing against the demolition drive. The Supreme Court bench said, “What you read now is about regularisation. come on encroachment now.”
There are 731 unauthorised colonies in Delhi with 15 lakh people living there. How do you (NDMC) target only one area, since you target only one community: Dushyant Dave tells Supreme court
Supreme Court bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai begins hearing plea against demolition drive in Delhi's Jahangirpuri pic.twitter.com/izpvhpZ70m
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2022
Security deployed in the Jahangirpuri area of Delhi which witnessed violence on April 16 during a religious procession pic.twitter.com/3xgss8j2gu
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2022
AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Raghav Chadha, and Sanjay Singh attacked the BJP saying razing the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP headquarters using bulldozers will free the country from communal violence and riots forever.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party alleged that it was the BJP that had engineered clashes between two communities in Jahangirpuri during a Hanuman Jayanti procession last week as well as other such incidents of violence in various parts of the country during Ram Navami.