A delegation of Congress leaders led by former Union Minister Ajay Maken, AICC in-charge of Delhi affairs Shaktisinh Gohil and State president Anil Choudhury visited violence-hit Jahangirpuri on Thursday. However, they were stopped by the police from going to the area where an anti-encroachment drive was conducted by the NMC a day before.
After the BJP sent its fact-finding committee to Bagtui, Trinamool Congress leaders including Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sajda Ahmed, Aparupa Poddar, Mala Roy and Satabdi Roy will visit Delhi's Jahangirpuri. A five-member delegation of the Samajwadi Party will go to Jahangirpuri on Friday to get a ground report. Talking to reporters, Ajay Maken said that the drive was an attack on the poor and their means of livelihood. Citing court judgements, he said the drive was conducted by violating the rules. "This demolition is illegal. I was an urban development Minister too, and I know how laws work. They cannot do this without any prior notice.
The BJP leaders are lying," Maken said. When Congress leaders were not allowed to visit the area, they sat on a dharna but were asked by the police to move.
Maken said that the poor street vendors were suffering consequences of the intervention of BJP politicians in MCD administration. He said that Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act-2014 was enacted to protect livelihood of these poor people. Gohil also hit out at the BJP, saying the anti-encroachment drive was an attempt to divert attention from the rising inflation in the country. Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar asked why the Chief Minister had not visited the area.
"How come bulldozers are being allowed when there's Section 144 imposed here? One-sided action is being taken. They are targeting Muslims. We are here to ensure they get justice," he said.
The demolition drive conducted by NMC to remove encroachments was stopped following a Supreme Court on Wednesday.Meanwhile, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists were detained by police while staging a protest near Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's residence against anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri.
The IYC activists were detained from Akbar Road while they were trying to reach the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister's residence. In an official statement, IYC national president Srinivas BV said the BJP is pushing the country towards hatred and violence.
"The ruling party is creating an atmosphere of hatred in the country. The BJP's conspiracy to trample on the truth, non-violence and justice will not succeed," he said. Around 25-30 activists were detained and taken to Mandir Marg police station, said a senior police officer.