Cong slams BJP’s ‘inhuman’ demolition drive, threatens protests over evictions

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav on Thursday accused the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi of launching an “inhuman and anti-poor” demolition drive against JJ clusters and street vendors, barely 90 days after coming to power.

Yadav said the BJP had made promises in its manifesto, including Rs 5 meals at Atal Canteens in slum areas, free education from KG to PG, and housing under PMAY. However, it is now “snatching” the livelihoods and homes of the very people who built Delhi.

“In this unbearable heat, the BJP Government is demolishing slums and evicting those who contributed to building the city’s infrastructure—Metro lines, flyovers, and high-rises,” said Yadav.

He also hit out at the removal of street vendors, saying over five lakh vendors in Delhi still await licenses and vending zones under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, enacted during the UPA government. “The AAP government failed to implement the Act, and now BJP is removing vendors high-handedly, continuing the same neglect,” he added.

He alleged that the government is violating SC and Delhi High Court directives that bar demolition of slums without rehabilitation. “The government is acting in total defiance of court orders and basic human rights,” Yadav said.

He also criticised the BJP for taking credit for in-situ housing projects in Kalkaji and Ashok Vihar, originally initiated under the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government. “Now, with bulldozers in hand, they are betraying the poor who were promised homes and security,” he said.

Yadav warned that if demolitions continue without alternative accommodation and street vendors remain unprotected, Congress workers will hit the streets to defend the rights of Delhi’s poor.