26 Jul. 24: During a recent parliamentary session, Rajiv Rai, a Member of Parliament from the Samajwadi Party (SP), voiced serious concerns regarding the demolition of homes belonging to Muslims and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh. Representing Ghosi in Mau district, Rai alleged that these demolitions are part of a systematic targeting of marginalized communities, often carried out using bulldozers.
Rai stressed the urgency of addressing this issue, pointing out that despite efforts by three MPs and five MLAs to highlight the problem, they faced significant resistance from local law enforcement agencies. His remarks underscore the broader issue of mistreatment faced by marginalized groups in the state, reported the Indian Express.
Earlier this month, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs of rendering the poor homeless by orchestrating demolitions through various government departments. AAP leader and MLA Durgesh Pathak, in a press conference, alleged that homes in Civil Lines, Delhi, were “illegally demolished,” displacing residents who had lived there since Independence. Pathak also mentioned that the railways had issued a notice to demolish slums in Brar Square, Delhi Cantonment, on July 22. He criticized Bansuri Swaraj, the BJP MP from New Delhi, for not visiting the affected residents.
The issue of demolitions targeting vulnerable communities continues to spark significant debate and concern among political leaders and citizens alike.
