The BJP government has begun preparations to demolish jhuggis in Nangli Dairy, just months after razing Madrasi Camp, Jailerwala Bagh, and Bhoomiheen Camp. Senior AAP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, pointed out that the same BJP leaders who stayed overnight in these settlements before elections and distributed “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan” cards are now threatening bulldozers if residents fail to produce documents within five days. She declared that the BJP has betrayed Delhi’s poorest and is dismantling their homes one by one. AAP will fight this battle in the Assembly and on the streets to protect every jhuggi.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, senior AAP leader and Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi exposed the BJP’s betrayal of Delhi’s working-class communities. She said that ahead of elections, BJP leaders conducted symbolic stays in jhuggi clusters, shared meals with residents, played ludo and carrom with children, and distributed “Jhuggi ke sthaan par pakka makaan” (permanent house where the jhuggi stands) cards. PM Modi repeatedly claimed during the campaign that not a single jhuggi would be demolished in Delhi.
“But the moment elections were over and BJP came to power, they began tearing down the homes of the poor, one after another. The very jhuggis where they made promises are now the first to face bulldozers,” she said.
Atishi added that after razing Madarasi Camp, Jailorwala Bagh, Wazirpur and Bhoomiheen Camp, the BJP government is now preparing to demolish the JJ cluster in Nangli Dairy. “Just two days ago, BJP-run MCD pasted demolition notices on homes in the cluster, which has 250-300 jhuggis. Residents have been labelled ‘encroachers’ and warned that unless they submit paperwork within five days, their homes will be demolished,” she said.
“BJP has no intention of fulfilling its promise of ‘Jhuggi ke sthaan par makaan’. Their real plan is to raze every jhuggi to the ground. People living in Nangli Dairy haven’t just arrived in Delhi in the last year or two — they’ve lived here for 15–20 years. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has built streets, drains, and toilets here. This is a recognised JJ cluster maintained by the Delhi government. It is the government’s duty to rehabilitate jhuggi dwellers before any demolition. But BJP, driven by its anti-poor agenda, is demolishing homes one by one,” Atishi said.
The senior AAP leader affirmed that the AAP stands firmly with the poor and the residents of Nangli Dairy’s JJ cluster. “Whether it’s in court, at the MCD, in the Delhi Assembly or out on the streets, AAP will fight shoulder to shoulder with jhuggi dwellers. We will not allow BJP to demolish these homes,” she said.
