Asaduddin Owaisi sees 'encroachment removal' as ploy to 'punish poor Muslims' in Jahangirpuri

File image of Asaduddin Owaisi

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has raised questions over the anti-encroachment drive be carried out on Wednesday by the civic body in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area which was hit by violence during Hanuman Jayanti last week.

Sharing a communication from an official of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation to a senior police officer demanding security for the "special joint encroachment removal programme”, the Hyderabad MP alleged that the action was meant to “destroy the homes of poor Muslims”.

“BJP has declared war against the poorest. In the name of encroachment, it’s going to destroy homes in Delhi like UP and MP. No notice, no opportunity to go to court, simply punishing poor Muslims for daring to stay alive,” Owaisi, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief, said in a tweet late on Tuesday night.

BJP has declared war against the poorest. In the name of encroachment it’s going to destroy homes in Delhi like UP & MP. No notice, no opportunity to go to court, simply punishing poor Muslims for daring to stay alive. @ArvindKejriwal must clarify his dubious role 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Psw4Ol6IJb

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 19, 2022

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government in Madhya Pradesh had recently used bulldozers to demolish 16 houses and 29 shops, mostly owned by Muslims, for alleged involvement in rioting incidents. Similarly, bulldozers were used to demolish houses in Gujarat after incidents of violence.

In the letter addressed to the North West Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police, the Assistant Commissioner, Civil Lines Zone of North Delhi Municipal Corporation sought 400 police personnel, including lady police/outer force for maintaining law and order during the encroachment removal action on April 20 and 21.

READ | Jahangirpuri violence: Amit Shah speaks to top Delhi Police, directs them to take action

Though the letter doesn’t mention the recent violence in the area but it comes after Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta wrote to the North MCD Mayor, demanding identification and demolition of “illegal encroachment” and construction by those arrested in the Jahangirpuri violence.

"These anti-social elements and rioters have the support of local AAP MLA and councillor and as a result these people have done large-scale encroachment. Therefore, illegal encroachment done by these rioters should be identified and there should be bulldozers run over it,” Gupta said in the letter. 

Overall, nearly 25 accused, mostly Muslims, have been arrested so far in connection with the violence erupted after alleged stone-pelting on a `Shobha Yatra` in the Jahangirpuri area on April 16, marking Hanuman Jayanti. The incident lead to widespread clashes leaving several people, including cops, injured.

Also, read | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Bengaluru on April 21, as AAP prepares for 2023 assembly polls

Owaisi had earlier accused police of taking "one-sided" action in the violence.

As many as 14 accused in the case were produced before of the Rohini court on Sunday, which sent two prime accused - Ansar and Aslam - to police custody for a day. The remaining 12 were sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Owaisi also hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his "dubious" role as the PWD department, mentioned in the letter, comes under his government.

Also, read | Heavy police deployment to continue in Delhi's Jahangirpuri: Officials

“Is his government's PWD part of this demolition drive? Did people of Jahingirpuri vote for him for such betrayals and cowardice? His frequent refrain 'police are not in our control' won’t work here. There isn’t even a pretence of legality or morality anymore,” (SIC) the AIMIM leader said.

#WATCH | Anti-encroachment drive underway at the Jahangirpuri area of Delhi which witnessed violence on April 16 during a religious procession pic.twitter.com/zIxMVccwSM

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2022

Owaisi’s comments come amid an escalating political slugfest between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP trading allegations against each other for the violence in Jahangirpuri.

On April 19, AAP leader Atishi alleged that Ansar, the main accused, of the Jahangirpuri riots had “deep ties” with the BJP. The allegation came hours after the BJP alleged Ansar belonged to the AAP, and demanded that the role of the ruling party in the violence be investigated.

Mayor, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Raja Iqbal Singh, said the drive was part of routine work "The anti-encroachment drive will take place across Delhi. Earlier also we had requested security for the drive but due to some reasons the action was not taken," he told news agency ANI.