Political Firestorm Erupts in Delhi Over Slum Demolitions

Political Firestorm Erupts in Delhi Over Slum Demolitions

RMN News Report Highlights:

• Widespread slum demolitions in Delhi by the BJP-controlled Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have reportedly rendered 15,000 people homeless, stripping them of everything.
• Opposition parties, including Congress and AAP, have strongly condemned the demolitions, labeling them “insensitive and dictatorial” and “anti-poor”. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi particularly emphasized the loss of “dreams, dignity, and livelihood” for the affected families.
• Critics argue that these demolitions contradict the BJP’s pre-election promise of providing concrete houses to the urban poor, specifically Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “jahan jhuggi wahi makaan” slogan for in-situ rehabilitation.
• While the BJP claims displaced families were relocated to alternative housing, broader outrage persists, with critics linking the evictions to a “cleanliness” drive prioritizing an “aesthetically pleasing city” over the needs of vulnerable residents.

RMN News Delhi Desk
August 4, 2025

DELHI – A wave of slum demolitions in Delhi has ignited a fierce political firestorm, drawing strong condemnation from opposition parties and sparking widespread protests. Critics accuse the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of heartlessly displacing thousands of poor families, while the BJP maintains that displaced residents have been relocated.

The Congress party today staged a “Vidhan Sabha gherao” protest in Delhi, utilizing social media platform X to decry the demolitions. The party stated that the BJP government’s actions have “rendered 15,000 people homeless and stripping them of everything,” labeling it an “insensitive and dictatorial attitude”. Congress workers faced police force and water cannons during the protest but vowed not to surrender, affirming their support for the affected families.

A few days prior, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X to condemn the demolitions, accusing the BJP government of “heartlessly displacing hundreds of poor families”. In a poignant Hindi video message, Gandhi questioned the emotional impact of such actions, asking, “Imagine if your own parent, child, or sibling was suddenly taken off their roof—how would you feel if your entire family was made homeless in one fell swoop?”. He emphasized that the demolished homes represented the “dreams, dignity, and livelihood” of the affected families.

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Gandhi’s post has intensified an ongoing political dispute. The demolition drive, reportedly initiated by the BJP-controlled Delhi Development Authority (DDA), has drawn sharp criticism. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Atishi, representing Kalkaji, previously labeled the demolitions an “anti-poor policy,” alleging that the BJP opposed slum dwellers in court and that residents were “forced out of their homes, beaten with sticks”.

Critics further argue that these demolitions contradict the BJP’s pre-election promise of providing concrete houses to the urban poor. This commitment was linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “jahan jhuggi wahi makaan” (a house where the slum is) slogan, which advocated for in-situ rehabilitation.

In response, the BJP has claimed that displaced families were relocated to alternative housing. The party has also questioned AAP’s own record on delivering homes for the poor.

Despite the BJP’s claims, the demolitions have sparked broader outrage. Left parties and activists protested at Jantar Mantar months ago against what they term a “selective demolition campaign”. These groups link the evictions to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s “cleanliness” drive, which critics argue prioritizes a “green and aesthetically pleasing city” over the needs of Delhi’s most vulnerable residents.

As tensions continue to mount, the demolitions persist in exposing deep political divides over urban development and the rights of Delhi’s poorest citizens.