In other news, masks have been made mandatory in public places in the national capital once again, with the Delhi Disaster Management Authority reimposing a fine of Rs 500 as Covid-19 cases in the city shot past the 1,000-mark on Wednesday.
The Ashram underpass is set to completely open to the public from Sunday. The 750-metre-long underpass, to be inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on April 24, will connect New Friends Colony to Bhogal and provide seamless connectivity between central Delhi, ITO, India Gate, Sarai Kale Khan, Faridabad and Badarpur. The launch comes after eight missed deadlines.
In other news, the final part of the Lokniti-CSDS study on urban slums found that every year, lakhs of people from rural India migrate to cities in search of jobs, education and a better life for themselves and their families. Many are forced to live in congested slums. Close to one-fifth respondents (17%) were either not engaged in any work or were looking for a job.
Meanwhile, the city’s peak power demand hit 5,735 megawatt Tuesday, which is the highest ever for the city in the month of April, according to BSES officials. The peak power demand of 5,735 MW recorded at 3.30 pm Tuesday is a sharp rise from a peak of 4,469 MW on April 1, and 4,040 MW on March 1. This year, the peak power demand crossed 5,000 MW for the first time on April 8, at 5,036 MW.
For more updates on what's happening in Delhi today, follow our daily live blog
A day after several structures were demolished at Jahangirpuri in New Delhi on Wednesday, several companies of police stood for their roll call in riot gear, carrying tear gas munitions and shields on Thursday morning.
In the afternoon, the Supreme Court ordered the status quo in the north-west Delhi locality for at least two weeks, after which it will hear the matter of demolitions again.
Waiting for the court to decide on whether the demolition drive would continue, people and the security personnel were both unsure of what the day would bring. Read more
National Commission for Minorities (NCM) member Syed Shahzadi on Thursday said the panel will submit a report to the government on the communal violence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area and recommend appropriate action.
The chairman of the NCM and other members visited Jahangirpuri, she said.
Eight police personnel and a local were injured in stone-pelting and arson after clashes broke out between two communities in Jahangirpuri during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on April 16. Some vehicles were also torched. Read more
Congress leader Maqdoom Khan, while explaining as to why the party did not turn up yesterday, said: “We were discussing the writ petition filed by senior leader Kapil Sibal. The discussions went on till night which is why we postponed the visit to today morning.”
Congress leader Anil Chaudhary sat in protest against the police not allowing them to meet the victims of Wednesday’s demolition drive.
On reaching the spot, Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said: "We have come here to meet the victims. There is no policy which says demolitions can be done without prior notice. We want to tell people that this incident should not be looked at from the prism of religion."
A delegation of Congress leaders arrived at Kushal Chowk in Jahangirpuri, where clashes had broken out on Saturday. Ajay Maken and Haroon Yusuf were among the delegation walking to the chowk.
Here are a few key takeaways from today’s hearing:
? The Supreme Court has ordered to North Delhi civic body to stop the demolition drive until further orders.
? Matter to be heard after two weeks.
? Supreme Court issues notice to authorities, says: “Will take a serious view of all demolitions that took place after the Supreme Court decision was communicated to the mayor.”
? The Bench also issued notice to the Union of India and the States of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat on another petition filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind against the authorities in different states resorting to demolition of houses of persons accused in crimes.
Daleep Kumar Saxena, whose fruit-juice stall was destroyed by a bulldozer, turned up at Jahangirpuri today. “No notice was given. I have all the documents. I have suffered a loss of at least Rs 7 lakh. I have ab NOC that my shop is authorised. The SC has put a stay, but I have already suffered a loss. When my shop was being demolished, police did not allow me to come,' Saxena added before being taken away by the cops.
Asking the civic body to stop all demolition drives, the Supreme Court said: “We will take a serious view of all demolitions that took place after the Supreme Court decision was communicated to the mayor. Issue notice in all petitions. Status quo to be maintained. To be heard after two weeks.”
The Supreme Court bench asked those representing the civic body as to when was the order communicated to MCD as it was passed at 10:45 am. To this, Dushyant Dave said: “The authorities themselves spoke to the media at 11 am about the Supreme Court order, yet they continued the demolition.” Sanjay Hegde, who is representing a victim of the drive, said: “I told them about the Supreme Court order, yet they continued with the demolition.”
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.”
Petitioners’ lawyer Dushyant Dave said: “A reasonable opportunity is to be given (before demolition). You have destroyed homes now. Who is responsible? You will not touch Sainik Farms and south Delhi, where every other home would be unauthorised, but you will come to demolish homes of poor people? The letter by the Delhi BJP chief is a sad commentary on the state of our nation.”
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.
Hitting out at the North Delhi civic body for the demolition drive, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, who was appearing for the petitioner, said: “You have destroyed homes, who should be held accountable? They are poor people! Come to any colony in south delhi including golf links,every second house has unauthorised construction. You don’t want to destroy that.”
The Supreme Court bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai began hearing a plea against demolition drive in Delhi's Jahangirpuri. Hit by communal violence days earlier, the area in North West Delhi saw seven bulldozers roll into the neighbourhood on orders of the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation, razing parts of several structures, including the exterior gate of a place of worship. The demolition, which started around 10.15 am, went on for two hours despite the Supreme Court’s directions at 11 am that status quo be maintained.
A delegation of Congress comprising 15 leaders, including former Union minister Ajay Maken, MP Shakti Singh Gohil, Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary, and vice president Abhishek Dutt, would be visiting Jahangirpuri in Delhi Thursday, where a demolition drive was carried out a day before. “Jehangirpur demolition without notice/procedure is entirely illegal… Tomorrow morning, along with other senior leaders, I will visit the site. Sorry for not being there today,” said Maken in a tweet.
The bulldozer is at the door, due process is underfoot, and the Supreme Court cannot unsee the danger. The sequence of events speaks for itself: At Jahangirpuri in northwest Delhi Wednesday morning, seven bulldozers rolled in, accompanied by over 1,000 policemen, to demolish “illegal encroachments” in an area still tense because of the flaring of communal violence on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on Saturday — and they continued on their mission to raze for well over an hour after the Supreme Court ordered them to pause. Evidently, the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation follows the BJP’s agenda ardently, even when the Court directs it to hold its hand, even when it goes against the law. At Jahangirpuri, the fig leaf — of illegal constructions — is so thin it does not even require a puff of Delhi’s acrid air to be blown away. Read More
As the Supreme Court is about to take up the Jahangirpuri demolition case today, Congress leader P Chidambaram said: We see the Rule of Law break down every day. Soon, there will be no law and no rules. Once arbitrary ‘Orders’ override ‘Law’, we are on the road to hell. The Bulldozer represents the arbitrary ‘Order’. The Supreme Court represents ‘Law’. Yesterday, we saw the Bulldozer defy the Law. Let’s see what happens today.”
Wednesday’s action in Jahangirpuri by the North MCD flies in the face of its usual practice of sending a notice at least five days in advance in cases of encroachment. The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957 states that the civic body needs to give at least five days’ notice to a person who has carried out the alleged illegal construction. During this time, the person can be asked to make alterations, failing which the corporation has the power to demolish or seal the unauthorised structure. Read More
One was selling cold drinks to police until yesterday. Another had been running a store in the building where he was born 40 years ago. A third was saving up for the festival. None had any prior notice, none were given the right to respond — all were scrambling Wednesday evening to pick up the pieces of what was left. Just hours earlier, as two CRPF officers took position atop Akbar’s home in Jahangirpuri and complained about the harsh sun, the 35-year-old shop owner had immediately split a red flex board into two to make a temporary sun shade. “All I asked was whether the encroachment drive will damage my shop and they promised me it was against scrap dealers,” Akbar said.
The Delhi municipal corporation’s snap anti-encroachment demolition drive, a few days after a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the area sparked communal violence, has left in its wake a trail of devastation and despair, cutting across fault lines. Read More
Good morning and welcome back to our Live Blog. From the Supreme Court taking up the case related to the demolition drive in Jahangirpuri later in the day today to updates regarding the Covid situation in and around Delhi, follow this space to get the latest news.
Several teams of Delhi police are at the spot where a local BJP leader, Jeetu Chaudhary, was shot dead at Mayur Vihar. The probe is on and Police are trying to find some lead. Mahender Singh Manral reports.
A local BJP party worker was shot dead allegedly by four men in East Delhi's Mayur Vihar on Wednesday evening just outside his home.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the razing of structures in New Delhi's Jahangirpuri is an attempt by the BJP to create circumstances that help it win the civic body polls there. He also accused the BJP of targeting the Dalits, Muslims and other minorities.
Reacting to the civic body action, Yadav tweeted, "Hindu-Muslims live together. But this unity of Hindu-Muslims cannot be tolerated by the BJP and the media controlled by it. MCD elections are going to be held in Delhi that is why the BJP is creating this environment to win the polls." "Poor Hindu-Muslim is getting crushed in all this,” he added. (PTI)
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi was allegedly stopped by the police from visiting Jahangirpuri where the North Delhi Municipal corporation demolished several structures on Wednesday before the Supreme Court ordered a stay on it. Police personnel were deployed in Jahangirpuri in large numbers as Owaisi tried to reach the violence-hit area.
He lashed out at the BJP and AAP over the anti-encroachment drive action launched by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation in the area. "The AAP is saying they are Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. I condemn it," he told reporters and termed the demolition drive an "example of vigilante justice" and slammed the BJP for it.
"A BJP leader wrote a letter for using bulldozers in Jahangirpuri and the mayor said that they are criminals and their houses should be demolished," Owaisi said. (PTI)
One was selling cold drinks to police until yesterday. Another had been running a store in the building where he was born 40 years ago. A third was saving up for the festival. None had any prior notice, none were given the right to respond — all were scrambling Wednesday evening to pick up the pieces of what was left.
Just hours earlier, as two CRPF officers took position atop Akbar’s home in Jahangirpuri and complained about the harsh sun, the 35-year-old shop owner had immediately split a red flex board into two to make a temporary sun shade. “All I asked was whether the encroachment drive will damage my shop and they promised me it was against scrap dealers,” Akbar said.
Barely an hour later, all that a bulldozer left of his small shop was squashed cigarette packets and cold drinks covered in dust. And all that this family of four was left with was an earthen piggy bank with coins and spare notes. Read More
Opposition parties criticised the anti-encroachment drive held by the BJP-controlled North Delhi Municipal Corporation in the clashes-hit Jahangirpuri on Wednesday, with both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party accusing the BJP of trying to stoke more violence.
“This is a demolition of India’s constitutional values. This is state-sponsored targeting of poor & minorities. BJP must bulldoze the hatred in their hearts instead,” senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the only way to end hooliganism in the country was to bulldoze the BJP headquarters. Read More
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Wednesday attacked the BJP after a demolition drive was carried out in violence-hit Jahangirpuri earlier in the day, calling it a “drama” and accusing the party of being responsible for the encroachment in the area.
“This drama of breaking illegal encroachments is being done now. In the past 15 years, why did the MCD allow these encroachments to come up? The illegal constructions that were cleared today… Which neta of the BJP took the money and made those constructions?” Sisodia asked after a demolition drive was carried out at Jahangirpuri earlier in the day. Read More
CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat stands in front of a JCB to stop the demolition during the anti-encroachment drive at Jahangirpuri.
Ashu (36) runs an automobile repair shop in the mosque premises of Jahangirpuri. He has estimated losses of Rs 1.5-2 lakh in today's demolition exercise. His shop's shutters have been damaged as well as three vehicles, including a bullet bike which a customer had left in the shop for repair.
Ganesh Kumar Gupta (54), who has a juice shop in Jahangirpuri, said his shop is legal and was allotted by the DDA in 1977. "My father ran this shop before me. I had all the documents, but the authorities did not wait. I have suffered a loss of at least Rs 5 lakh. I was not worried because my shop is legal. I will now approach court."
Jamaludin, a 72-year-old resident of Jahangirpuri, said the North MCD demolished the water pipe and bathroom of their house during the anti-encroachment drive.
"Our family of seven has no source of water. They did not give any notice. We assumed they would just pick up garbage and clean the road, but the bulldozer just razed everything."
Speaking on the now-halted demolition drive in Jahangirpuri, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind secretary Niaz Ahmed Farooqui said that by initiating this drive days after communal clashes were witnessed less than a week ago, the government is favouring rioters.
He said the government is "targeting a community" and urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and stop the demolition drive.
Hitting out at those alleging biased action in the Jahangirpuri violence case, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said action has been taken on the basis of "crime and conspiracy", not on "caste and community".
The senior BJP leader's remarks came after All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that "one-sided action" is being taken in the Jahangirpuri violence case.
Naqvi said the culprits have been arrested on the basis of the crime committed by them and not on the basis of their creed. No one should be allowed to harm the harmony of society, he said.
Some people are constantly engaged in delivering "no-ball of hate" and "hat-trick of hostility", the minister told reporters. (PTI)
The Delhi High court agreed to hear during the course of the day pleas against the anti-encroachment drive in violence-hit Jahangirpuri, but refused to interfere in the process at this stage.
Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi asked the lawyers, who mentioned the cause for urgent listing and relief, to file their petitions and said, "I am not saying anything (on stopping the demolition) but that they (authorities) should be ready (with instructions)."
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma stated that the Supreme Court is already seized of the issue.
The Acting Chief Justice said that the petitions would be heard during the course of the day once they were filed, and observed that "there was nothing new" and the drive was "already in contemplation". (PTI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the use of bulldozers in violence-hit areas of Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to switch off "bulldozers of hate" and switch on power plants.
He also raised the issue of coal shortage in the country and shared a news report that claims that India stares at outages as coal stocks at power plants hit a low.
While mentioning that the demolition drive in Jahangirpuri is continuing despite the Supreme Court's status quo order, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave said, “It sends a terribly wrong message that even after SC order it is not being stopped."
CJI NV Ramana then directed the SC Registry to communicate its order immediately to the muncipal authorities and Delhi police officials.
North MCD stopped the anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri following a communication from the Supreme Court registry.
Special CP (law and order of northern zone) Dependra Pathak said they have received the apex court order on maintaining 'status quo' in Jahangirpuri and now the demolition drive has been stopped.
North MCD Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said the anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri will be stopped soon as authorities have received the Supreme Court order.
Earlier, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave had again mentioned against the demolition continuing in Jahangirpuri despite the status quo order. CJI NV Ramana had asked the Supreme Court Registry to communicate the status quo order to North Delhi Mayor, North MCD Commissioner and Delhi Police commissioner.
CPI(M) eader Brinda Karat reached Jahangirpuri, where an anti-encroachment drive is underway despite the Supreme Court halting the action.
"At 10.45 am, the SC gave an order to maintain the status quo on the demolition drive, I have come here for the implementation of the order," she told reporters.
Bulldozers rolled in to Jahangirpuri in New Delhi at around 10 am Wednesday to begin an anti-encroachment drive. This move comes days after communal clashes broke out in the area. A total of 12 companies of the CRPF have been deployed across the city. Several people called the drive an act of vengeance. Similarly, AAP leader Amanatullah Khan alleged it was an attempt disturb the peaceful atmosphere of Delhi.
See Photos here
As the anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri continued despite the Supreme Court ordering status quo, locals lamented losses to their shops and goods. NCMD Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said the action will continue till the apex court's order is received, while Special CP Dependra Pathak said the decision to stop the demolition rests with the civic body.
Rahima, a Jahangirpuri resident, said she took a loan to buy a fridge for Rs 15,000. "They told us that only scrap items will be removed. I kept checking with the police since morning and they promised nothing would happen to my shop." Her shop was demolished in the anti-encroachment drive.
Raman Jha (52), pan shop owner whose shop was destroyed, said "No notice, no information. I came thrice in the morning to remove the cart asked the police and they said nothing will happen. Then they suddenly broke my shop."
Shortly after the Supreme Court ordered status quo on the anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri, North MCD commissioner Sanjay Goel said the action will continue as no information has reach him him till now.
"I will talk to the law officer," he said. "Encroachment on public road and government land is being removed. Such exercises have been held earlier too. But people keep coming back and encroaching land," Goel said.
Naveen Tyagi, Zone Chairman,Civil Lines, North West District told ANI that action will also be taken against unauthorised construction, "These people do encroachment and also do 'goondagardi'. Some of them are also named in the riots," he said.
Posting the matter for hearing on Thursday, the Supreme Court ordered status quo on the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri.
Advocate Shahrukh Alam had made a mentioning regarding the demolition before the Delhi High Court. She has submitted that a petition would be moved in next two hours. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma submitted that the mentioning was being made before the Supreme Court too.
Jamila, whose cart was among the first to be demolished by the bulldozer, said, "No notice was given to us. My husband and I have been running a cart here for two decades. Ye sab badle ke bhav se ho raha hai (this is being done with vengeance in mind)."
Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP want to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of Delhi, AAP leader Amanatullah Khan alleged, after the North MCD scheduled an anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri, which saw violent clashes between two communities last week.
The Okhla MLA said demolition of the houses of "a particular community" just to "harass" them in the holy month of Ramadan on the pretext of an anti-encroachment drive will further spoil the atmosphere in the area. "Such cheap politics will ruin the country if not stopped in time," Khan, also the Delhi Waqf Board chairman, said.
Bulldozers commenced the anti-encroachment drive amid tight security in Jahangirpuri, where several were injured in communal clashes.
Raja Iqbal Singh, Mayor, North Delhi Municipal Corporation told ANI that the anti-encroachment drive will take place across Delhi.
An arms supplier from Jahangirpuri has nabbed after a brief encounter, DCP Outer North Brijender Yadav told ANI. He has more than 60 previous cases against him.
RAF officers have joined the fray carrying tear gas munitions, medical kits and riot gear.
Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta wrote to the North MCD Mayor on Tuesday, demanding identification and demolition of “illegal encroachment” and construction by those arrested in the Jahangirpuri violence.
“As you are aware, on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, there was a shobha yatra taken out in Jahangirpuri. Some anti-social elements and rioters pelted stones on it,” he said in a letter which was also addressed to the North MCD Commissioner.
“These anti-social elements and rioters have the support of local AAP MLA and councillor and as a result these people have done large-scale encroachment,” he alleged. “Therefore, illegal encroachment done by these rioters should be identified and there should be bulldozers run over it.”
A Jahangirpuri resident told The Indian Express that as heavy security remains deployed in Jahangirpuri following communal clashes, the people are suffering. "We earn Rs 200-300 a day and we are not being able to go out for that. Earning members are being picked from houses. How are we to sustain our households?" the resident asked.
Hours after the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) demanded police cover for carrying out an encroachment removal drive in violence-marred Jahangirpuri, Member of Parliament from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi said the BJP has declared war against the poorest. "In the name of encroachment it’s going to destroy homes in Delhi like UP and MP. No notice, no opportunity to go to court, simply punishing poor Muslims for daring to stay alive," Owaisi said in a tweet.
He also attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said he 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 and cowardice? His frequent refrain police is not in our control won’t work here,” Owaisi, who is the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), added. "There isn’t even a pretence of legality or morality anymore...hopeless situation.”
Special CP Law and Order (North) Dependra Pathak said that the police has come to Jahangirpuri with adequate force to maintain law and order in the area. "We are here to assist the MCD in their operations. Whatever operations the MCD is doing we have provided adequate security keeping in view of the incident which happened."
On the encroachment drive, he said that civic agencies will know about the exact nature of the encroachment drive. "It is a sensitive operation and we can't reveal more details. Whatever their legality is it is on them to decide," he added.
Pathak further said the police has made "adequate arrangements" to ensure that "peace and tranquility is maintained".
Mohammad Saddam, who sells chicken in Jahangirpuri C Block said that people have packed up all their belongings following reports of an encroachment drive.
"The encroachment drive takes places every few months, but this action is happening due to the clashes that occured on Hanuman Jayanti. I have never seen such a huge deployment of police during an encroachment drive," he said.
Manu, a 32-year-old scrap dealer, said there are apprehensions among the locals about the encroachment drive that the Morth MCD has called for. "They (locals) welcome the encroachment drive which they say takes place two to three times in a month but are anxious since the drive is being carried out post the Hanuman Jayanti clash," he said.