The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s ‘Jhuggi Jhoot’ stands exposed. Senior AAP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, visited Madrasi Camp and strongly condemned the BJP for carrying out bulldozer demolitions and betraying Delhi’s poor and marginalised.
After placing their trust in the BJP’s grand promises and voting with hope, jhuggi dwellers across Delhi now find themselves homeless and deceived. As bulldozers flatten settlements across the capital, anger and despair are rising in communities like Madrasi Camp, where hundreds have been displaced. “We made a huge mistake voting for the BJP — this wouldn’t have happened under Arvind Kejriwal’s government,” said devastated residents.
Senior AAP Leader and Delhi Assembly LoP, Atishi, has exposed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) false promises and brutal betrayal of Delhi’s jhuggi dwellers, following her visit to Madrasi Camp on Wednesday. Speaking to the media, Atishi said, “On Wednesday, I visited Madrasi Camp. Homes where people had been living for decades were bulldozed by the BJP. Most jhuggi residents did not receive any alternate housing. A few were given broken-down homes in Narela, where there are no schools, no hospitals, and no jobs. Women, elderly people, and youth had tears in their eyes. BJP made a false promise of ‘Jahan jhuggi, wahin makaan’ to win votes and betrayed these poor people the moment they came to power.”
Criticising the demolition drive carried out under the BJP-ruled Delhi government, Atishi said the BJP has deceived the jhuggi residents of the city. “Before the elections, the BJP promised to provide homes at the same location as the jhuggis. People trusted them and voted for them. But as soon as the elections were over, bulldozers started rolling into jhuggi areas across Delhi. In Madrasi Camp, most residents didn’t receive any replacement housing—even though they have lived there for 30–40 years.”
She added that those who did receive homes were sent to Narela—nearly 50 kilometres away. “It takes 1.5 to 2 hours to reach there. There are no roads, no schools, no hospitals, and no job opportunities in Narela. The houses are in shambles, and there are no electricity or water connections. The residents of Delhi’s jhuggis have now realised that they were deceived. The BJP lied to get votes. Residents themselves are now saying they regret voting for BJP. If Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP government were in power, our homes would still be standing,” she said.
Meanwhile, residents of Madrasi Camp are living under the open sky in the sweltering heat, with their young children, after being rendered homeless. “We have been living here for 70 years,” said one of the displaced families. “Our in-laws, our parents, our children, everyone is settled here. We’ve been here for generations. We have Aadhaar cards, PAN cards—everything. Our kids study in the local schools. We feel happy living here.”
Residents spoke of the trauma inflicted by the BJP. “Since the BJP came to power, we have suffered immense loss. The first time they broke our jhuggis, we rebuilt them. But this time, they destroyed everything. They came with bulldozers and ordered us to vacate by 5 PM on Saturday. No help was offered. On the contrary, they kept pressuring us: ‘Hurry up, hurry up!’ They are in power—what can we do?”
Women in the area shared their anguish: “Neither the BJP MLA nor any leader came to see us. It’s been one and a half months. During elections, they came with folded hands asking for votes, promising homes right here. They even gave us cards. But now they’ve sent some people to Narela, which takes three to four hours to reach. We work in Barapullah. How can we go to Narela and come back every day? Our children are studying here. We’re scared to leave our belongings behind—things get stolen. We can’t leave our daughters alone. There’s no water or electricity in Narela. BJP has betrayed us. They’ve caused us immense harm.”
They further said, “We will stay right here—even if it means living on the roads—but we won’t leave this area. Our livelihood is here. Some people got houses, some didn’t. Those who didn’t have either rented homes or are sitting on the road. Their children aren’t able to go to school. Since it’s the holiday season, the struggle is even worse. We don’t like the new government. When Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP government was in power, things were better. This new government is ruining our lives. They’ve destroyed our homes. There’s no electricity or water. We’re in tears. Police arrive with lathis and chase us away.”
This heart-wrenching reality exposes the BJP’s doublespeak and cruelty. Their slogan of “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan” has turned out to be a blatant lie. Delhi’s poor—who trusted them—are now left homeless and hopeless. The Aam Aadmi Party demands an immediate halt to these demolitions, dignified rehabilitation of all displaced families, and a thorough probe into the BJP’s broken promises and inhuman demolition drives.
