MUMBAI: Over 8,000 homes, mostly owned by Muslim families, have recently been demolished in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The state government claimed these were “Bangladeshi” encroachments, but failed to provide any credible evidence. No prior legal notice or due process was followed, violating Supreme Court mandates. What unfolded wasn’t mere civic action—it was a calculated exercise of state power, leaving thousands of people homeless overnight.
This isn’t an isolated case. A clear pattern has emerged across BJP-governed states—from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to Gujarat—where bulldozers disproportionately target Muslim-majority localities. While illegal structures are found nationwide, the state’s demolitions appear one-sided, almost functioning like an unofficial “Bulldozer Ministry” that punishes people based on their identity rather than any legal principle.
The fallout is devastating. Families that had lived in these homes for decades have seen their lives turned to rubble. Women are stripped of their kitchens, children yanked out of schools, and the elderly abandoned without shelter. The demolitions happen suddenly—no hearings, no warnings, and no legal support.
What’s more distressing is the lack of institutional response and the silence of the media. Instead of questioning the legality or the human cost of these actions, many news outlets echo the dominant political narrative, allowing this targeted injustice to go unchecked.
This is not just about demolished homes—it is the erosion of justice, human dignity, and the secular foundations of our Constitution. A thorough, independent investigation is essential to expose the scale and communal bias behind such demolitions. In the absence of such data, the destruction remains invisible and unaccountable.
Hence, opposition parties must insist that the upcoming national census includes detailed surveys on the housing status of Muslims and other marginalized communities. Knowing how many have been displaced or rendered homeless is crucial. The nation has a right to know: who are the bulldozers targeting, and why?
Only by shedding light on these actions can we push for accountability and work towards a just, inclusive society.
