Pre-dawn demolition drive in Kalkaji leaves many homeless

In a pre-dawn operation on Wednesday, bulldozers accompanied by a large police force rolled into the Bhoomiheen Camp in the Kalkaji Assembly constituency and demolished hundreds of jhuggis, leaving families homeless and triggering political outrage.

The demolition began around 5 am — just hours before a scheduled court hearing in the matter —drawing sharp criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi.

Calling the action a “brutal assault on the poor”, Atishi alleged that the BJP government had gone back on its word and betrayed Delhi’s most vulnerable residents.

“Just three days ago, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta claimed that not a single jhuggi would be touched. Today, under heavy police cover, the entire Bhoomiheen Camp was razed, displacing thousands,” she said during her visit to the site.

The demolition drive has sparked a fresh political flashpoint in the Capital, with the AAP accusing the BJP-led Delhi Government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) of working against the interests of the poor.

Atishi alleged that these very agencies had gone to court seeking orders for eviction, while simultaneously projecting a pro-poor stance in public.

“On the one hand, the BJP pretends to care for the poor. On the other, their own departments file court petitions to demolish jhuggis without providing alternative housing,” she said.

She further questioned the timing of the demolition, pointing out that a court hearing on the issue was scheduled for 11 am the same day. “What was the urgency to carry out demolitions before the court could even hear the matter? This raises serious questions about the BJP government’s legal ethics and intent,” she said.

Atishi also highlighted what she described as a pattern of anti-poor policies since the BJP came to power in Delhi. “In just 100 days of the BJP’s rule, electricity tariffs have been increased, private school fees have gone up and now homes of the poor are being demolished. A hike in water prices is also expected. Every move is targeted at the poor,” she said.

Taking a sharp dig at the BJP’s political stance, Atishi accused the party of trying to drive out migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Purvanchal.

“It seems the BJP wants to purge Delhi of its poor. Wherever people from UP-Bihar live in jhuggis, their homes are being torn down! Is this the message the BJP wants to send — that people from Purvanchal are not welcome in Delhi,” she asked.

She also pointed out the contradiction in BJP’s political messaging. “On one hand, BJP leaders are seeking votes in Bihar and Purvanchal, while on the other, they are demolishing the homes of these very people in Delhi. This is rank hypocrisy.”