Will take protest to every slum cluster in city: Delhi Congress

Party leaders invoked the legacy of former CM Sheila Dikshit, claiming theirs was the only party that had made efforts to regularise and resettle slum clusters. “Congress built in-situ flats in areas like Bhoomiheen Camp and Kathputli Colony. BJP only makes hollow promises,” said former MP Udit Raj.

“What’s happening with slum dwellers is no surprise. This is BJP’s character,” said former MP and Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep Dikshit.

Amid the demonstration at the Assembly, allegedly held without permission, Delhi Police repeatedly announced that Section 144 was in place and that public gatherings were prohibited.

Even as Congress workers continued their demonstration despite warnings, police deployed water cannons and detained at least 36 protesters, including Yadav, who was taken to Subzi Mandi police station.

The demonstration was called against the recent demolition in areas such as Jangpura, Kalkaji, Wazirpur and Ashok Vihar.

More than 3,000 homes in slums have been demolished and 15,000 families have been rendered homeless over the past five months, without advance notice or alternate housing options, the party alleged.

In a symbolic act, party workers brought a paper jhuggi topped with a toy bulldozer, bearing photographs of BJP ministers with the words “Haye Haye” written below.

A poster on a protest truck read: “Jahan pe kiya jhuggi waalon ko beghar, wahin banao unka ghar (relocate the homeless jhuggi dwellers in the same area)”.

Last month, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited the Ashok Vihar slum cluster in Jailorwala Bagh, where hundreds of homes were demolished in June as part of an ongoing anti-encroachment drive. Videos shared by the Congress on social media showed Gandhi walking through the debris, speaking to residents who said they were left homeless.