NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea by CPM against demolition drive in Shaheen Bagh and said it cannot intervene in the matter at the behest of a political party.
Asking the petitioners to approach high court, a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai said: “Why is CPM filing a petition? What is the fundamental right that is being violated? Not at the behest of political parties. This is not the platform. You go to the high court.”
When senior advocate P Surendranath, appearing for the CPM, referred to the apex court’s recent orders on Jahangirpuri where the demolition drive was stayed, the bench said let the affected parties come.
“We have not given license to anybody to come here to say my house cannot be demolished even if it is unauthorized. You cannot take shelter of that order. We cannot interfere … that too at the instance of political parties,” the bench said.
Bulldozers return amid protests at Shaheen Bagh
Earlier today, there was high drama at Shaheen Bagh, the venue of anti-CAA protests, as South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC)officials alongwith bulldozers, trucks and police force reached there to remove illegal encroachments.
In December 2019, Shaheen Bagh was the centre of protests and sit-ins against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The sit-in was called off in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic had struck the city.
Protests erupted in the area opposing the SDMC’s anti-encroachment drive. Hundreds of people, including women, raised slogans against the BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) as well as the central government and demanded that the action should be stopped. Some women protestors also stood in front of bulldozers to prevent the exercise.
Later, the SDMC officials returned with bulldozers without conducting the exercise in the area.
Congress, AAP leaders stage dharna
Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress reached Shaheen Bagh and staged dharna against the SDMC action.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan alleged that the civic body was carrying out the drive to “disturb the atmosphere”.
Khan claimed that the people of the area had already removed the encroachments at his request.
“Wazu Khana’ and toilets outside a mosque here were removed in presence of police, earlier. When there are no encroachments, why have they come here? Just to do politics?” the AAP MLA said.
Delhi Congress leaders, including party’s media cell vice-chairman Parvez Alam, were among those detained by the police.
‘Don’t link encroachment to religion’
Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said the Congress and AAP’s opposition to anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh proves that they are supporters of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.
“The way Congress and AAP tried to stop the anti-encroachment drive shows their support for Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Those who were lying in front of bulldozers will be given a befitting reply by the people,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that AAP and Congress are opposing removal of encroachment in Shaheen Bagh. I urge them not to link encroachment with religion,” Gupta added.
Anti-encroachment drive to continue in national capital
Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta had earlier written to the mayors of South and East corporations on April 20 seeking “the removal of encroachments by Rohingyas, Bangladeshis and anti-social elements” in their areas.
Last month, an anti-encroachment drive conducted by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation in Jahangirpuri area, which witnessed violence between two communities on April 16, drew widespread criticism. The Supreme Court had to intervene to stop the action there.
Adrive was planned in Okhla and Jasola last month but it could not be executed due to unavailability of police force, said SDMC’s Central Zone chairman Rajpal Singh.
On May 10, the anti-encroachment drive will be conducted near Gurudwara Road near New Friends Colony while on May 11, it will be conducted in Meharchand Market, Lodhi Colony near Sai Baba Mandir and near JLN Metro station, he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
Asking the petitioners to approach high court, a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai said: “Why is CPM filing a petition? What is the fundamental right that is being violated? Not at the behest of political parties. This is not the platform. You go to the high court.”
When senior advocate P Surendranath, appearing for the CPM, referred to the apex court’s recent orders on Jahangirpuri where the demolition drive was stayed, the bench said let the affected parties come.
“We have not given license to anybody to come here to say my house cannot be demolished even if it is unauthorized. You cannot take shelter of that order. We cannot interfere … that too at the instance of political parties,” the bench said.
Bulldozers return amid protests at Shaheen Bagh
Earlier today, there was high drama at Shaheen Bagh, the venue of anti-CAA protests, as South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC)officials alongwith bulldozers, trucks and police force reached there to remove illegal encroachments.
In December 2019, Shaheen Bagh was the centre of protests and sit-ins against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The sit-in was called off in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic had struck the city.
Protests erupted in the area opposing the SDMC’s anti-encroachment drive. Hundreds of people, including women, raised slogans against the BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) as well as the central government and demanded that the action should be stopped. Some women protestors also stood in front of bulldozers to prevent the exercise.
Later, the SDMC officials returned with bulldozers without conducting the exercise in the area.
Congress, AAP leaders stage dharna
Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress reached Shaheen Bagh and staged dharna against the SDMC action.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan alleged that the civic body was carrying out the drive to “disturb the atmosphere”.
Khan claimed that the people of the area had already removed the encroachments at his request.
“Wazu Khana’ and toilets outside a mosque here were removed in presence of police, earlier. When there are no encroachments, why have they come here? Just to do politics?” the AAP MLA said.
Delhi Congress leaders, including party’s media cell vice-chairman Parvez Alam, were among those detained by the police.
‘Don’t link encroachment to religion’
Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said the Congress and AAP’s opposition to anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh proves that they are supporters of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.
“The way Congress and AAP tried to stop the anti-encroachment drive shows their support for Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Those who were lying in front of bulldozers will be given a befitting reply by the people,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that AAP and Congress are opposing removal of encroachment in Shaheen Bagh. I urge them not to link encroachment with religion,” Gupta added.
Anti-encroachment drive to continue in national capital
Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta had earlier written to the mayors of South and East corporations on April 20 seeking “the removal of encroachments by Rohingyas, Bangladeshis and anti-social elements” in their areas.
Last month, an anti-encroachment drive conducted by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation in Jahangirpuri area, which witnessed violence between two communities on April 16, drew widespread criticism. The Supreme Court had to intervene to stop the action there.
Adrive was planned in Okhla and Jasola last month but it could not be executed due to unavailability of police force, said SDMC’s Central Zone chairman Rajpal Singh.
On May 10, the anti-encroachment drive will be conducted near Gurudwara Road near New Friends Colony while on May 11, it will be conducted in Meharchand Market, Lodhi Colony near Sai Baba Mandir and near JLN Metro station, he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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