The escalating row over bulldozer action near a Delhi mosque took a new turn as All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader ST Hasan labeled both the machinery deployment and the stone-throwing response as fundamentally flawed. In his sharp critique, Hasan positioned himself as a voice of reason amid polarized narratives.
Recapping the sequence, enforcement agencies initiated the clearance on a busy Tuesday morning, citing violations of building norms. Protesters, fearing damage to the mosque, confronted the teams, leading to a barrage of stones that injured over a dozen policemen. The operation was paused temporarily, resuming later under tighter security.
Hasan minced no words: ‘Demolitions must follow the rulebook, not resemble vendettas. And stone-pelting only invites more repression.’ He pressed for judicial oversight in such matters and slammed political exploitation of the unrest. This stance reflects AIMIM’s broader strategy of critiquing both state overreach and radical elements within communities.
Contextually, Delhi has witnessed multiple anti-encroachment campaigns this year, reclaiming thousands of square meters of public space. Data from the Municipal Corporation shows a 30% rise in such actions, driven by court directives on illegal occupations. However, each drive risks communal flare-ups, especially in densely populated Muslim-majority areas.
Stakeholders weighed in diversely. AAP defended the legitimacy, sharing notice records, while opposition parties demanded probes into alleged targeting. Human rights advocates flagged the humanitarian impact on affected families, many of whom lost livelihoods overnight.
Looking ahead, Hasan’s intervention could influence discourse on ‘encounter demolitions.’ With urban India grappling with encroachments, his call for measured action underscores the need for empathy alongside enforcement. The capital watches closely as precedents are set.