Latest updates: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi also visited Jahangirpuri on Wednesday, called the drive carried out by North Delhi Municipal Corporation a “targetted drive” and accused the BJP of vigilante justice.
The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the status quo until further orders on the razing of buildings in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area of the national capital and said it would take a serious view of the demolition that was carried out even after its order was communicated to the NDMC mayor. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai issued notice to the Centre and others on the plea filed by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind that claimed that buildings of the Muslim riots accused were razed.
“Status quo to be maintained till further order…List after two weeks and pleadings to be completed till then,” the court said. “We will take a serious view of the demolition which was carried out even after Supreme Court orders, even after NDMC Mayor was informed. We will take that up later,” the bench said.
The CPI(M) has alleged that the recent incidents of violence across the country are “not sporadic communal riots” but “planned attacks” by right-wing outfits using the Hindu new year and Ram Navami processions to target the Muslim community. In an edit in the latest edition of People’s Democracy, the CPI (M) mouthpiece, the party has referred to the violence between two religious’ communities across the country and said that this is a way to take the anti-Muslim campaign to a “new level”.
“The month of April has seen a sharp escalation in the attacks on Muslims by the Hindutva forces. The RSS outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have in a planned and organised manner utilised the Hindu new year on April 2 and the Ram Navami processions on April 10 to target the Muslim community.
“The modus operandi has been the same in various parts of the country – processions with arms are taken out and as they pass through Muslim localities, provocative slogans are raised outside the mosque and skirmishes engineered. This becomes the signal to attack Muslim shops and houses and resort to arson,”. (PTI)
A delegation of Congress leaders visited violence-hit Jahangirpuri on Thursday but was stopped by the police from going to the area where an anti-encroachment drive was conducted by the North MCD a day before. The Congress delegation included former Union minister Ajay Maken and AICC in charge of the state unit Shaktisinh Gohil.
Maken told reporters that the drive was an attack on the poor people and their means of livelihood. Citing court judgements, he said the drive was conducted by violating the rules. “This demolition is illegal. I was an urban development minister too, and I know how laws work. They cannot do this without any prior notice. BJP leaders are lying,” Maken said. Gohil also hit out at the BJP, saying the anti-encroachment drive was an attempt to divert attention from rising inflation in the country.
Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar asked why has the chief minister not visited the area. “How come bulldozers are being allowed when there’s section 144 imposed here. One-sided action is being taken. They are targeting Muslims. We are here to ensure they get justice,” he said. Several senior leaders of the Delhi Congress were also part of the delegation. Some leaders, including Anil Kumar, sat on a dharna at the spot but were asked by the police to move. (PTI)
