High Court’s Ruling Slows Down Bulldozing in Haryana’s Nuh
After the high court's decision, Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata instructed relevant officials to cease the bulldozer operations.
New Delhi: The demolition efforts in Haryana’s Nuh, which were initiated after communal clashes in the region, were suspended today due to a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata has requested relevant officials to halt the bulldozer operations in response to the high court’s decision. The court has independently addressed the issue a week after six fatalities, significant property damage, and heightened fear unfolded in Nuh and Gurugram due to communal clashes in Haryana.
In the last four days, a total of more than 350 makeshift dwellings and around 50 cement structures were brought down during the demolition process.
The demolition campaign faced backlash, as politicians claimed it was biased against Muslims. Additionally, a significant number of individuals whose residences were destroyed asserted that they had not received any advance notification.
Nonetheless, the local authorities stated that their actions were directed at addressing unlawful constructions and encroachments, emphasizing that no specific person was the focus of these measures.
“Efforts to dismantle unauthorized structures are currently in progress and will persist. Our intention is not to single out any particular individual with these measures. Our goal is to ensure tranquility,” Mr. Khadgata stated yesterday.
Hyderabad MP and head of All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Asaduddin Owaisi, is among those who criticized Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s administration for the demolition campaign. Owaisi remarked, “The notion of Confidence Building seems to involve the demolition of buildings, residences, medical shops, and shanties belonging to a specific community (Muslims) without adhering to proper procedures, resulting in collective punishment. The government under @mlkhattar’s leadership has disregarded the authority of the Courts of Law. Confidence is being instilled in individuals who share ideological similarities with the BJP/Sangh,” he conveyed.
The local authorities faced criticism when they prevented a four-person delegation from the CPI from accessing the Nuh district. The disagreement between the CPI representatives and the police was recorded on video. CPI MP Binoy Viswam remarked, “This is the current predicament of our nation. The present truth is that the Police are obstructing even us. This implies that within this governance, even the right to move around is restricted. Ruffians, troublemakers, and extremists, however, can move without hindrance,” he expressed.
The regions impacted by the sectarian clashes remain tense, with curfews enforced in several of these locations. Paramilitary personnel are present on-site to avert any escalation of the situation.
This morning, there was a four-hour relaxation of the curfew, during which ATMs were made accessible.
The internet suspension in the region remains in effect.
Nuh police have reported that more than 150 individuals have been taken into custody in relation to the clashes, and a total of 56 cases have been filed.
