Atishi detained during protest against Kalkaji demolition drive in Delhi

Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition and senior AAP leader Atishi was detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday while protesting the demolition of jhuggis at the Bhoomiheen Camp in Kalkaji. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that Atishi was forcibly taken to Baba Haridas Nagar police station, located about 43 km away from the site, in what the party called an “authoritarian crackdown” on democratic dissent.

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The demolition drive at Bhoomiheen Camp sparked a strong political confrontation between the AAP and the BJP-led government in Delhi. Videos from the site showed a heavy police presence, as residents held up documents and resisted eviction. The AAP leaders claimed the demolition was being carried out without rehabilitation, in violation of the BJP's pre-poll promise of “Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makan”.

Atishi, who reached the site earlier in the day to support protesting residents, accused the BJP of “betraying” jhuggi dwellers. “CM Rekha Gupta will face the curse of the poor. BJP will never return to power in Delhi,” she said before being detained. She alleged that 60% of the residents had been allotted flats, while the remaining 40% were repeatedly declared ineligible without transparency. “People who’ve lived here for decades are being declared encroachers. Where is the compassion?” she asked.

She further questioned the government’s decision to not challenge the demolition order in the Supreme Court. “The High Court didn’t bar the government from rehabilitating people. Why hasn’t the BJP government acted to protect them?” she said.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal reacted sharply to the incident, calling it an act of “dictatorship”. “Our leaders are being arrested simply for raising their voice for the poor. In just three months, the BJP has destroyed Delhi,” he posted on X.

The Delhi BJP and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is spearheading many such demolitions across the city, have not issued a detailed response yet. The DDA had earlier stated that demolitions were being carried out following court orders in areas deemed unauthorised or unsafe.

Meanwhile, AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjay Singh and Anurag Dhanda condemned the police action and reiterated their commitment to continue protesting eviction drives. “BJP’s promise of ‘Jhuggi ke sthal par hi makan’ has proven to be a mere jumla,” said Sisodia, calling the treatment of jhuggi dwellers “inhumane”.

Residents of Bhoomiheen Camp said they were not given prior notice or alternative housing. “We have all documents—voter ID, Aadhaar, ration cards. Still, they say we don’t exist,” a woman resident said, alleging that police lathicharged those who resisted.