Supreme Court halts the bulldozing of houses of Muslims in Jahangirpuri; Dushyant Dave, Kapil Sibal, and Prashant Bhushan reached court.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind filed the petition against bulldozing of houses as a punitive measure which senior advocates such as Dushyant Dave, Kabil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, and PV Surendranath took to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has stayed the action of bulldozing the encroachment of the accused in the Hanuman Jayanti riots in Jahangirpuri in the national capital, Delhi, for now.
It has ordered the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to maintain the status quo for the time being. The court has said that the demolition of encroachments should be stopped for now. Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, Kapil Sibal, PV Surendranath, and Prashant Bhushan argued in court against the municipal corporation’s action.
Dushyant Dave termed the corporation’s action as illegal and said that no notice was issued to the people before sending a bulldozer to demolish the encroachments. He said that the entire action is illegal and no one was issued a notice.
Sr Adv Dushyant Dave: “Something serious little requires your immediate intervention. Completely unconstitutional and illegal demolition has been ordered in the Jahangurpuri area.
He also said, “No notice has been given! Demolition has started today at 9 knowing we’ll mention, it was earlier to be started at 2 pm today”
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal also stated “There’s another petition which applies all over India, that be listed along with it.” to which the CJI okayed.
However, it appeared that the mowing down of houses was not stopped until two hours later and Dushyant Dave said, “I’m feeling sad, despite the world knowing that this court passed orders they are not stopping. It sends a wrong message.”
Asaduddin Owaisi President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen called the drive out, stating that “BJP has declared war against the poorest” and it is, indeed, a “hopeless situation. ” BJP has declared war against the poorest. In the name of encroachment, it’s going to destroy homes in Delhi like UP & MP. No notice, no opportunity to go to court, simply punishing poor Muslims for daring to stay alive. @ArvindKejriwal must clarify his dubious role. Is his govt’s PWD part of this “demolition drive”? Did people of Jahingirpuri vote for him for such betrayals & cowardice?! His frequent refrain “police are not in our control” won’t work here. There isn’t even a pretense of legality or morality anymore
Hopeless situation!”
BJP has declared war against the poorest. In the name of encroachment it’s going to destroy homes in Delhi like UP & MP. No notice, no opportunity to go to court, simply punishing poor Muslims for daring to stay alive. @ArvindKejriwal must clarify his dubious role 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Psw4Ol6IJb
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 19, 2022
AAP Leader’s Incendiary Speech Against Muslims
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said razing Union home minister Amit Shah’s residence and BJP headquarters would rid the country of communal violence and riots forever blaming the BJP for lettig Rohingyas and Bangladeshis “illegally” settle in different parts of the country in the last eight years with the “sole motive of triggering communal violence and riots”.
The statement was inflammatory in this sensitive time to trigger further violence and hatred towards the already vulnerable Rohingyas and Bangladeshis who could be targetted endlessly just by their presence and religion. AAP was severely criticized for its absence and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s disappearance throughout this.
जिस दिन Amit Shah के घर Bulldozer चल जाएगा, इस देश में दंगे बंद हो जाएंगे।
BJP ने दंगे करवाने के लिए देशभर में बांग्लादेशियों और रोहिंग्या को बसाया है।
BJP List दे, किसे कहाँ बसाया है? इससे पता चल जाएगा- अगले दंगे भाजपा कहाँ करवाने जा रही है।
–@AtishiAAP #BulldozeBJPHQ pic.twitter.com/zxs3Das1gJ
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 20, 2022
Supreme Court’s Decision
The bench of Chief Justice (CJI) NV Ramana has ordered to maintain the status quo. The Supreme Court has said that along with the second case, it will be heard tomorrow.
The order will be issued by the court after hearing all the parties tomorrow. Let us know that on Wednesday morning itself, 9 bulldozers had reached Jahangirpuri and prepared to remove the encroachments of the riot accused. A large number of security forces were deployed before this action, but now the bulldozers are returning after the Supreme Court’s order.
Criticism from all Quarters
The demolition drive has garnered criticism from all ends. While many are supporting it as a developmental part, it has instilled an unprecedented fear amongst the Muslims not just in Jahangirpuri, but around India as well.
The residents in the area were not given prior notice about the same. The anti-encroachment campaign’s timing has left everybody questioning the Delhi government’s ulterior motives. ‘Stop Bulldozing Muslim Houses’ On Twitter, a hashtag called ‘Stop Bulldozing Muslim Houses’ has gone viral under which people are criticizing the government for the anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri. ”
You are the Chief Minister of Delhi. PWD comes under your govt. Please stop this. You should be protecting the poor and the marginalized Muslims as a Chief Minister, not making them homeless overnight,” a journalist named Kaushik Raj shared the notice on Twitter and tagged Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Muslims are subjected to so much hurt and pain in our holy month of Ramazan. This is deliberate, and this is cruel, and inhumane. Say no to sadistic demolitions. Only a viciously cruel state can do this. #StopBulldozingMuslimHouses pic.twitter.com/k0A6mC7uGy — Zubair Memon (@AimimZuber) April 19, 2022
Another user named Nabiya Khan adds further, “Muslims are being made refugees in their own country and everyone is silent as if we deserve it. Have some shame and stop it from happening. These encroachment drives need to stop. Houses of Muslims are being demolished in the name of this.”
Initially, the Delhi-based civic body claims that they have not ‘received’ the order. “We haven’t received the Supreme Court order’s copy yet. The demolition is underway,” the news publication quoted the MCD. The Home Ministry ordered that strict actions should be taken against the accused under the National Security Act.
The Jahangirpuri violence waged a political war in the country. When it comes to the recently-concluded demolition drive, the head of BJP Delhi supported the ‘anti-encroachment’ drive to demolish the accused’s houses as “an act of revenge” and citizens are critizing the BJP government of being in war with its own citizens.
The head of BJP Delhi supported the ‘anti-encroachment’ drive to demolish the accused’s houses. The demolitions stop nearly 2 hours after Supreme Court’s order.
NDTV’s Sukirti Dwivedi reports
#Jahangirpuri | Demolitions stop nearly 2 hours after Supreme Court's order
NDTV's Sukirti Dwivedi reports pic.twitter.com/ZbUL96Js3s
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 20, 2022
There were accuations from certain BJP leaders because Dushyant Dave, Kapil Sibal, PV Surendranath, and Prashant Bhushan had stopped the bulldozing process while others retorted indignantly that the BJP wants to destroy this great nation and are finding reasons to attack minorities and people who support them.
Unfortunately, a poor man with no arms who had small children own house was bulldozed down, and there was heavy condemnation because he obviously could not throw stones during the riots and this proved this was a vicious act of revenge. Many other very poor lost all their belongings. The question rises whether the Supreme Court will take action against those who authorised the demolition drive in Delhi.
Congress supporters retorted to people asking, “Where is Congress?” with this meme
To everyone of those asking, "Where is Congress"?
Congress leader and former MP Sh. Kapil Sibbal represented Ulama – I – Hind in Honourable Supreme Court against the illegal demolition.
Where is AAP kejriwal?
Who is ruling Delhi? #Bulldozers #jahagirpuri pic.twitter.com/1aOrPt2ZRF— Er.Rakesh Rayjada (@Rakesh_IYC13) April 20, 2022
United with Congress tweeted: A war has been waged against hatred. Every section is being exploited and crushed in the country. Riots are being instigated, countrymen are being fought. Is this the India we imagined? Fight against BJP hatred.
They came for food, they came for the hijab and now they are coming after houses.
A war has been waged against hatred.
Every section is being exploited and crushed in the country. Riots are being instigated, countrymen are being fought.
Is this the India we imagined? Fight against BJP hatred.#IndiaAgainstHate #Bulldozer pic.twitter.com/TgwkqvF2Aw
— United With Congress (@UWCforYouth) April 20, 2022
Tehseen Poonawalla social activist tweeted, “Exactly a year ago we were begging for hospital beds & #oxygen. Hindus & Muslims, the rich & poor everyone was vulnerable! The Govt had failed us..A year later -the govt is spreading hate & using the #Bulldozer to destroy lives just as they Bulldozed our economy & your jobs!
Exactly a year ago we were begging for hospital beds & #oxygen. Hindus & Muslims, the rich & poor everyone was vulnerable! The Govt had failed us..
A year later -the govt is spreading hate & using the #Bulldozer to destroy lives just as they Bulldozed our economy & your jobs!— Tehseen Poonawalla Official 🇮🇳 (@tehseenp) April 20, 2022