SC orders NDMC to stop demolition drive in Jahangirpuri; critics charge authorities target minorities
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to stop immediately the demolition of buildings belonging to riot accused, most of them owned by the minority community in Delhi's Jahangirpuri.
The BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation seems to be following the Madhya Pradesh government style of handling the riot situation in Delhi by ordering an anti-encroachment drive at Jahangirpuri, where most of the occupants are from the minority community.
The decision came days after the communal violence broke out following the Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri. According to the reports, for the scheduled two-day anti-encroachment drive starting from today, the NDMC made sure the deployment of 400 personnel from the Delhi police to maintain law and order during the eviction drive.
The NDMC is said to have acted on Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta's demand that the corporation identify the illegal constructions of rioters in Jahangirpuri and demolish them.
However, in spite of the court's stay, the NDMC officials are reported to be continuing to demolish the buildings saying that they have not received any orders. Apparently the officials are in an attempt to raze as many buildings as possible before receiving the order.
The Madhya Pradesh government had also taken similar measures after the violence following the Ram Navami procession. Even before a fair probe into the riot and the cause that led to it, dozens of houses and shops belonging to minority community were bulldozed.
Apart from being accused of illegal occupation, the owners were also accused of pelting stones at the procession.
Meanwhile, both AAP and the BJP traded charges on one another over the linkage of the main accused, Ansar in the violence who is in police custody. Ansar has apparently become a pawn in the political game. While the BJP called him a member of AAP, images of him attending BJP's functions were released by AAP.