The bulldozer has now emerged as a major symbol of state-backed intimidation of Muslims. in country. Later Khargone in Madhya PradeshIn Delhi’s Jahangirpuri Used to demolish shops and houses Appears to be a punitive measure in the wake of the riots that followed a provocative religious procession. Jahangirpuri demolition, stayed by the order of status quo passed by the Supreme Court, which had to be reiterated as the operation went on for more than an hour following the order, representing a serious violation of the rule of law. Even though it has been described as part of a demolition process that began a few months ago and a prior notice, some would believe that the campaign at Jahangirpuri had nothing to do with the ‘encroachment’ , as in the wake of communal unrest. And in the middle of Ramadan. By intervening in time, the court may have stopped what could have been a series of demolitions of small businesses and homes belonging to some of the capital’s poorest residents. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, who was present at the spot, highlighted the continuation of the demolition even after the authorities were apprised of the court order. The Supreme Court must tackle this abusive behavior as part of the ongoing proceedings, in which its main concern is, of course, retracting the dangerously divisive and partisan manner in which officials are responding to law and order issues. .
There are aspects to this controversy that betray the emerging pattern of the use of government machinery to hurt Muslims. One is the role of the ruling BJP, whose Delhi chief wrote to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation targeting ‘rioters’ who allegedly threw stones at a Hindu religious procession around a mosque. As the lawyer argued in the court, it seems that this wish has been treated as an order, and the police force is mobilized to fulfill it within a day. Another aspect is the attempt to combine the legal consequences of riots and communal violence with administrative measures to deal with encroachment in public places. The official line leans towards the principle of removal of encroachment, while the political message is that ‘rioters’ will be dealt with. It is a matter of concern that the Aam Aadmi Party, which, while blaming the BJP on one hand, has also made a cunning insistence that the troublemakers are ‘Bangladeshi’ and ‘Rohingya’, words that make the residents of the area vulnerable to it. Will make Denial of their rights. The most disappointing aspect is the apparent joy that the communal sector of the BJP derives from inflicting pain on the ‘other’. The challenge before the country’s political opposition is not only to tackle the state’s illegal methods but also to reverse the slide of this polarization in the wider society.