Bulldozer badnaam hua, encroachment tere liye: Min Naqvi on Shaheen Bagh demolition row
The anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh on Monday in which the bulldozer returned without taking action as the metal scaffold was removed by workers, the issue continues to grab attention with leaders airing their statement. The latest in the list of leaders airing their views is Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. The Minister said it has become a fashion to give a “communal colour” to criminal acts, and asserted that “legal action” against “illegal acts” should be supported.
When the bulldozer landed in Shaheen Bagh at the spot where a peaceful sit-in was held against the new citizenship law on Monday, ticket seekers, including Congress leaders, physically blocked bulldozers in front of the media. Congress leader Advocate Aarfa Khanam stole the show as her photo with bandage in her leg and resisting the move went viral. Also, the national media carried the photo.
Her action of hopping onto a bulldozer, the earthmoving machine, has emerged as a symbol of resistance against the anti-encroachment drive with many netizens sharing the photo with caption like: “Modern Rani Ki Jhansi.”
After Congress leaders Gentle Hedayatullah, Aarfa Khanam, Parve Alam Khan being detained with Independent leader Ashu Khan the bulldozer moved on the road to stop in front of the building with metal scaffolding.
“Be it crime, illegal acts, some political parties make it a part of their pseudo-secular agenda. Bulldozer badnaam hua, encroachment tere liye. The constitutional, social and religious rights of minorities were, are and will be protected. Nobody can harm these rights. It is heartening to see that at some places people have themselves cleared encroachments,” said the Minority Affairs Minister.
After a complaint lodged by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) with the police against Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and his supporters, accusing them of obstructing its anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh on Monday, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against him and his supporters.
