NEW DELHI — Bulldozers roared into Khadda Colony in the Muslim-dominated Jaitpur area of the national capital on Wednesday and, in a jiffy, flattened several homes, affecting hundreds of people. The marauding bulldozers were accompanied by a strong posse of police force and senior administration officials turning familiar lanes into a cantonment of dust and dread..
The uprooting of dozens of families in the area occurred under the shadow of a law that still breathes — a statute shielding unauthorised colonies from the very blades of sealing and demolition until year’s end.
The Delhi High Court, too, had spoken: only the vacant shells of buildings might fall. But fall they did, occupied or not, leaving behind a bitter question that hangs in the smoke: to what end this haste?
Since the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Rekha Gupta government in Delhi, Muslims in several areas have constantly been passing sleepless nights, fearing bulldozer action on their colonies. Opposition parties have alleged that the government, which boasts of grand development and public welfare, is now destroying the homes of poor families.
Early Wednesday morning, bulldozers reduced several buildings in Khadda Colony to rubble, leaving hapless residents watching their life savings erode before their eyes.
The large-scale demolitions took place as a heavy police force was deployed in the area, which resembled a cantonment.
However, the administration stated that no occupied homes were demolished as the action was primarily directed at vacant homes and buildings. Despite this, an atmosphere of panic and chaos prevailed in the area.
Residents of the area feared for the worst when senior officials visited the area a week ago; a major crackdown was anticipated.
The most painful scene during the crackdown was that of families weeping as they watched their homes collapse.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
