The Mohan Yadav-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh has been facing some criticism after authorities in Chhatarpur demolished the home of a Muslim leader, destroyed his cars and paraded other Muslims over allegations of stone pelting during protests against Maharashtra priest Ramgiri Maharaj’s inflammatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Last Thursday, Free Press Journal reported that a bungalow and three luxury cars owned by Haji Shahzad Ali were destroyed alleging that his abode was built “without permission.” How and why such action, without due process or notice was followed by the authorities, has not even come up for any questioning. Normally, those who build “illegal structures” are given time even enough to approach the High Court and Supreme Court before such brazenly one-sided unilateral action is taken.
Under which provisions of the law was all this done? The administration first justified the demolition of the house by saying that it was on government land, then said that it was very close to a water body and then said that the land belonged to Shahzad Ali but the map of the house was not approved. In India or Madhya Pradesh is an entire house demolished if its plans are not approved by authorities – that too without proper notice is the question that needs to be sharply posed?
In April May 2022, following a spate of Ram Navmi procession related violence in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, there were a spate of demolitions, equally unjust carried out. Sixteen homes at five locations, largely or only belonging to Muslims were demolished by the MP administration in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. At the rime too the minority community had moved the MP High Court on the question. Same year, on April 21, 2022, the Supreme Court heard the petition filed by Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind against demolition drive in Jahangirpuri and other states, namely – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and extended the status quo orders on the demolition drive in Jahangirpuri. On being pressed by one of the petitioners for a stay on all such demolition all over the country, the Bench said that if selective, unlawful demolitions continue anywhere else, they should be brought to the court’s notice after which it would step in. To date there has not been a final resolution in the case. SabrangIndia has been tracking to the extent possible the spate of demolitions countrywide against the economically marginalised with minorities also becoming part of a specific target.
The evolution of demolitions and bulldozer as a fashion of brute justice has been seriously concerning and may be read about here.
August 23
Shahzad Ali, a former Vice President of Congress in Chhatarpur, was reportedly leading the protest demanding action against the priest for his blasphemous remarks. Apart from Ali’s bungalow, properties belonging to his brother and other accused were also demolished. This blatantly illegal and unconstitutional act of rough justice was reportedly carried out by the authorities after direct instructions from the CM, Mohan Yadav. Shockingly, the videos of the demolitions were also put out by the Chhatarpur Collector on his social media accounts on Thursday.
“Under the direction of the Chief Minister of the state, strict action was taken by the Chhatarpur district administration against the accused in the case of stone pelting on the Kotwali police. The building constructed without permission was demolished,” wrote the Chhatarpur Collector on Thursday. While capturing the scene of the demolition and scattered debris, the video shows four bulldozers razing the bungalow. Four destroyed cars could also be seen.
The bulldozer action unleashed by the authorities against Muslims has come in for criticism. According to information, Shahzad Ali reached the police station, along with a huge crowd, to submit a memorandum over some objectionable comment on the Prophet. Gradually, it turned into a heated argument. Following which, the angry crowd started pelting stones to the police and injured the police officials. The police personnel reportedly staged an over-night protest against the attack and demanded strict action from the MP government.
On Thursday morning, additional forces from the border districts and senior officers reached the residence of Shahzad Ali rather promptly. The medical team also went along with them, in case any emergency situation arises.
The police broke the lock of the house, and started demolishing the illegal parts of the house with the help of an excavator machine. The exterior of the house has been razed to the ground. At the same time, all three machines have been installed from three sides.
The SP stated that they will take strict measures so to avoid such incidents in future. The city market has been shut today in support of the police.
This time, the largest opposition party, the Congress, normally not so vocal on such attacks on minorities was visible in its condemnation.
President Congress Party, Mallikarjun Kharge on X;
Demolishing someone’s home and rendering their family homeless is both inhumane and unjust. The repeated targeting of minorities in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling. Such actions have no place in a society governed by the Rule of Law.
The Congress Party strongly condemns the…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 24, 2024
Demolishing someone’s home and rendering their family homeless is both inhumane and unjust. The repeated targeting of minorities in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling. Such actions have no place in a society governed by the Rule of Law. The Congress Party strongly condemns the BJP state governments for their blatant disregard of the Constitution, using bulldozing as a tactic to instill fear among citizens. Anarchy cannot replace natural justice—offences must be adjudicated in courts, not through state-sponsored coercion.
Former chief minister, Madhya Pradesh and former Lok Sabha member, Digvijaya Singh on X:
छतरपुर की घटना की जितनी निंदा की जाय उतना कम है। किसी भी लोकतंत्र में किसी भी Investigating Agency व Prosecution को दंड देने का अधिकार नहीं हो सकता। “बुलडोज़र संस्कृति” को माननीय Supreme Court को संज्ञान में लेना चाहिए। इस विषय पर मेरी इंदौर High Court में 24/04/2021 से PIL…
— Digvijaya Singh (@digvijaya_28) August 25, 2024
छतरपुर की घटना की जितनी निंदा की जाय उतना कम है। किसी भी लोकतंत्र में किसी भी Investigating Agency व Prosecution को दंड देने का अधिकार नहीं हो सकता। “बुलडोज़र संस्कृति” को माननीय Supreme Court को संज्ञान में लेना चाहिए। इस विषय पर मेरी इंदौर High Court में 24/04/2021 से PIL पेंडिंग है। तारीक पर तारीक बढ़ाई जा रही है। जबकि मेरी Prayer क्या है? मैंने सांप्रदायिक घटनाओं पर माननीय Supreme Court के Directions जो राज्य सरकारों को दिये हैं उसका पालन एमपी सरकार करे, यही मेरी प्रार्थना है। उस पर माननीय इंदौर High Court द्वारा एमपी सरकार को Supreme Court के Directions पालन करने के आदेश देने में क्या एतराज होना चाहिए
मैं बुलडोज़र संस्कृति के खिलाफ हूँ। आरोपी को दंड मिलना चाहिए लेकिन दंड देने का अधिकार अदालत को है किसी भी प्रशासकीय अधिकारी या MP MLA साहब को नहीं है। छतरपुर में शहज़ाद अली का मकान पुलिस पर पथराव करने के कारण तोड़ा गया या अतिक्रमण करने के कारण तोड़ा गया? यह बात प्रशासन को खुलासा…
— Digvijaya Singh (@digvijaya_28) August 24, 2024
मैं बुलडोज़र संस्कृति के खिलाफ हूँ। आरोपी को दंड मिलना चाहिए लेकिन दंड देने का अधिकार अदालत को है किसी भी प्रशासकीय अधिकारी या MP MLA साहब को नहीं है। छतरपुर में शहज़ाद अली का मकान पुलिस पर पथराव करने के कारण तोड़ा गया या अतिक्रमण करने के कारण तोड़ा गया? यह बात प्रशासन को खुलासा करना चाहिए।
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is also on record before the media stating that he was in possession of a recording of the District Magistrate of Bhind in which he is allegedly heard saying that he will demolish the houses of Muslims, not Hindus. He is also allegedly heard saying that he will demolish houses only where there is a “Hindu Muslim angle.” In a recent murder case, for instance, the administration reportedly demolished the houses of the accused Muslims but refused to take such action against a Hindu accused in a similar case. Some weeks before that, in Ujjain, in a rape case, the house of the accused Muslim was demolished but not that of the other accused, who was a Hindu.
Thereafter, Congress leaders led by former chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh on Friday, August 9, held a massive rally demanding the registration of an FIR against Bhind District Magistrate Sanjeev Srivastav for giving religious basis to demolish houses belonging to three accused in a murder case. According to a complaint filed by the Congress, at Srivastav’s direction, the administration bulldozed the houses of the three accused because of their Muslim identity. The complaint pointed out that the administration refused to bulldoze the house of an accused in another similar case because he was not a Muslim. The officials, the complaint said, also looted valuable items and cash from the bulldozed houses.
Likewise, the Times of India had recorded that, we saw the statement of the District Magistrate of Dindori, Ratnakar Jha, two years ago: “The shop and house of Asif Khan, the accused in the kidnapping of a student in Dindori district, have been razed to the ground. For two days, action has been taken against the shops and illegal houses of accused Asif Khan.”
What was Asif Khan’s crime? That he had married a Hindu woman. It was a legal marriage. But as happens in India, the girl’s family objected. The District Magistrate demolished Asif Khan’s father’s house, abusing his power with no authority under law or the Constitution and not only that, boasted of it freely. When confronted, he clarified that the villagers wanted his house to be demolished, so he demolished it.
Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi said he will approach the Supreme Court against the government’s action. He said the demolition shows the BJP’s hatred towards Muslims.
“See another example of the BJP government’s hatred against Muslims. In Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, Haji Shahzad’s house was razed to the ground at the behest of the Chief Minister @CMMadhyaPradesh. @narendramodi Ji is roaming around the world chanting the slogan of Sabka Sath – Sabka Vikas and his state governments are finding excuses and demolishing the houses of Muslims. The Modi government, which took oath on the Constitution, is crushing the Constitution every day under this bulldozer. I will soon approach the Supreme Court on this issue,” he said.
Pratapgarhi added “Is this justice? In Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, the administration not only demolished the house of Haji Shahzad but also bulldozed the vehicles parked in the house. @narendramodi Sir, are your governments running as per the Constitution? Is your Chief Minister not crushing your slogan of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas under the bulldozer?”
Prominent human rights activist and Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand said “Law being bulldozed. Also tells us that the Indian state apparatus has gone rogue driven by Islamophobia.”
Prominent Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde said: “If a Chief Minister can instruct the administration to bring your house down, it is the rule of law that has been bulldozed.”
Apart from the demolitions, the videos of the accused being paraded in the city by the police have also gone viral on social media. The videos show the police holding hands of the arrested Muslims being paraded and raising inflammatory slogans “Police Hamar Baap Hai, Apradh Karna Paap Hai” (Police is our father, committing crime is a sin).
Hate speech the root cause
The agitation by local Muslims that brought on the bulldozer action was fuelled by derogatory remarks on Prophet Mohammed made by Ramgiri Maharaj in Nashik, Maharashtra last week. The protesters demanded an FIR against the seer. The agitation turned violent and people began pelting stones at the Kotwali police station after being denied entry. It caused injuries to four police personnel. Following the protest, the Chhatarpur district administration demolished the residence of the leader identified as Haji Shehzad Ali, former district president of the Congress. The administration also demolished properties belonging to Shehzad’s brother and Councillor Azad Ali and a few other accused. As per a report by The Hindu, over 150 protesters were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanahita (BNS) including 109, 196, 197(1), 299, among others.
Addressing the demolition of Ali’s residence, the district collector stated that action was taken as part of an anti-encroachment drive and a prior notice had been served to Ali. It is to be noted that the accused has been absconding.
Meanwhile, it is also reported that an FIR was registered in Pune against Hindu religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj over his alleged objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad and Islam, police said on Wednesday.
“We have registered a complaint under sections under BNS section 302 (uttering words with intent to wound religious feelings), 192 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and others,” the official said. Multiple FIRs have already been registered against the Hindu seer in various cities across Maharashtra. Maharaj allegedly commented on Islam and Prophet Mohammad during a religious event in Nashik district, police had said.
The deep rooted hate and prejudices fuelled by an aggressive Hindutva, the self-acclaimed weaponised ideology of the BJP-RSS has impacted on countrywide hate crimes. Earlier, thanks to on the one hand infiltration of the ideology within the police and administration, crimes that were committed by Hindutva gangs or mobs are now being committed by the administration and the police. The Hindutvafication of the Indian state machinery is the most anti-constitutional development over the past decade. Individuals and institutions who are tasked to ensure safety, security and rights of the people now commit crimes (mis) using their authority.
Related:
BJP MLA threatens “JCB Bulldozer” if voters don’t vote for BJP