This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
The bulldozer [lower-alpha 1] found its way into the election and political lexicon of Uttar Pradesh and further across India after its massive political use by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath of the BJP. While bulldozers are routinely used across India to remove illegal constructions, the bulldozer in this case has been used as an extrajudicial tool and a power statement against criminals, communal violence rioters and accused criminals.[ opinion ] Following its usage in political messaging in Uttar Pradesh, the bulldozer was used in Madhya Pradesh to convey political messages aimed at showing a strong stance against criminals. Narratives conveyed that a lot of the usage of the bulldozer was itself communal in nature. Critics argue that giving up on the rule of law and adopting "bulldozer justice" is the initial move toward an authoritarian society. In such a society, the safety, life, and liberty of individuals would depend on the arbitrary decisions of state officials. [5]
Its rhetoric usage by Adityanath started following the commencement of his first term in office from March 2017. By 2020, property belonging to numerous criminals such as Vikas Dubey, as well as politician-strongmen and gangsters Mukhtar Ansari and Atique Ahmed had been demolished using bulldozers. The action against Dubey started after he and his associates killed eight policemen in July 2020 during an attempted arrest. The UP government vowed to free up 67,000 acres (270 km2) [lower-alpha 2] of government land and other illegally occupied land by land mafia, issuing certain directives related to the use of bulldozers and also warned of their misuse. Adityanath began his second term as chief minister in March 2022. In a similar manner, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, another state with a BJP-based CM, began usage of the bulldozer in March 2022 against properties of the mafia, accused rapists and rioters. By late April 2022, bulldozers had also been used on the property of rioters in Delhi and Gujarat, with politics and legal issues ensuing, including over anti-encroachment drives in a BJP-held municipality in Rajasthan, an otherwise Congress-ruled state. In Uttarakhand, rioters during Hanuman Jayanti processions were threatened with bulldozers parked in the vicinity of property owned by the accused.
Yogi Adityanath started his first term as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017. His first announcement was that his government would clean up the law and order situation in the state among other connected issues. [6] An anti-mafia task force was set up and political messaging included statements such as "Leave UP or go to jail". [7] [8] It was in September 2017 when Yogi first warned that he would bulldoze properties of those involved in crime, "My government will bulldoze houses of anyone even thinking of perpetuating crime against women and weaker sections of the society", adding that it would take some more time to reel in other criminal elements. [9] Uttar Pradesh police had already started taking action against criminals [lower-alpha 3] with a number of them dying in police encounters. [9]
By the end of 2020 properties had been demolished. [lower-alpha 4] [10] [11] In July 2020 history-sheeter and crime boss Vikas Dubey's house was demolished along with four vehicles. [12] A few days eight policemen had been killed in an attempted arrest in which Dubey was the main accused. [13] [14] [15] Vikas Dubey would go on to die in an encounter after the police vehicle carrying him met with an accident. [16] In August 2020 Mukhtar Ansari, a criminal turned politician, connected properties were razed. [17] A government spokesperson explained that the property had been constructed on property of migrants in Pakistan. [17] Ansari's sons property was razed. [18] This involved 250 policemen and 20 bulldozers. [18] Part of a hotel he owned was demolished following a decision taken by an administrative board including the district magistrate. [19] In September 2020, properties connected to Atique Ahmed were demolished. [20] [21] This includes Mohamed Zaid's two-story house built in 2015 over 600 square yards. 6 bulldozers took 5 hours. [20] The reason given for demolishing the building was that the blueprints of the building were not cleared by local authorities before construction. [20] A number of other structures, illegal constructions, or belonging to known gangsters were also raised. [22] [23] [24] [25] This number increased by the end of 2021. [14] In February 2021, Yogi stated that 67,000 acres (270 km2) of land had been freed from mafia control. [26] Yogi said that the illegal properties that are being seized and bulldozed will be replaced by new houses for the Dalits and the poor, playgrounds and other social needs, [27] [28] [29] and warned the mafia of harassing the poor, farmers and traders. [30] Public response within Uttar Pradesh in relation to the use of the bulldozer has been mixed. [31] The Yogi government has also warned about the misuse of bulldozers. [32] [33]
We have a special machine which we are using for building expressways and highways. At the same time, we are using it to crush the mafia who exploited people to build their properties
Yogi Adityanath went on to use the bulldozer in his election campaign for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election held between 10 February to 7 March 2022. This earned him the tag "bulldozer baba". [34] [35] The term had initially been used as a taunt by an opposition party. [3] [36] In some rallies Yogi also mentioned "bulldozers taking rest". [37]
Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, another state with a BJP CM, went on to use the bulldozer in a similar manner was seen in Uttar Pradesh. [38] By 19 March, CM Chauhan had ordered the use of the bulldozer against property of the mafia as well as against gang rape, rioting and kidnapping accused in Seoni, Sheopur, Jaora, Shahdol and Raisen. [39] [40] The Shahdol rape incident took place on 16 March and the house of the accused was demolished on 22 March. This was following an investigation by the chief municipality officer who found a number of illegalities in the construction of the house. [39] [41] [42] Following clashes on Holi in Khamriya village of Raisen, the administration used bulldozers to demolish encroachments of accused rioters. [43] [44] Many of alleged perps were of a "particular community". [38] In a similar manner as the tag given to Yogi "bulldozer baba", banners were seen in Bhopal with "bulldozer mama" [lower-alpha 5] written and an image of CM Chauhan and a bulldozer in the background. [40] [45]
Following a rape incident on 28 March in a government guesthouse in Rewa, CM Chauhan ordered a bulldozer to be used against the house of the accused, a Mahant. [46] Following clashes in Khargone on 10 April 2022, Ram Navami, 16 houses and 29 shops were demolished by Chouhan's government. [47] [48] Some of the demolished buildings were constructed under the government housing initiative Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. [1]
10 April | Khargone, MP; [48] Howrah and Bankura, WB [49] |
---|---|
11 April | Khambat, GJ; [50] [51] Lohardaga, JH; [52] Baina, Vasco, GA [53] |
16 April | Jahangirpuri, DL; [48] Hubli, KA; [54] Bhagwanpur, Roorkee, UK [55] [56] |
17 April | Holagunda, Kurnool, AP [57] |
18 April | Amravati, MH [58] |
In Bold are locations where bulldozers were used in response. In Italics a threat to use bulldozers was seen. |
On 16 April, localized riots took place in Hubli, Karnataka. [59] Following violence, there were calls in the state demanding "bulldozer" form of justice. [60] [61] [4] On the same day violence was also seen in Uttarakhand's Bhagwanpur region. In the following days bulldozers were seen in proximity to properties of the riot accused. [55] [56]
On 20 April, following communal violence in Delhi's Jahangirpuri, local authorities issued demolition of certain structures in an eviction and anti-encroachment drive. [62] The Supreme Court of India intervened to stop the demolition. [63] Supposedly the Supreme Court had to give the orders twice as demolition continued for around an hour after the first order. [64] Street carts were also destroyed with bulldozers. [63] Residents said that even registered buildings were damaged. [63] Nine bulldozers were seen in the area and 20 structures destroyed. [1] [65] A political blame game ensued. [66] [67]
On 22 April, bulldozers were seen demolishing some shops and three temples in Alwar, Rajasthan, a Congress led state but in the BJP held municipality of Rajgarh. [68] [69] [70] Local administration said that consensus had been achieved in the destruction of the shrines, including one which had been built on a drain, and that it was part of an anti-encroachment drive and the shrines would be rebuilt on "non-controversial land". [70] During another anti-encroachment drive the next day a gaushala was part of the removed structures and cleared land. [71] [72]
Tushar Mehta, on behalf of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, stated that the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act provides for removal of "stall, chair, bench, box, ladder, bale" without notice. Just as Ganesh Gupta's juice shop was removed without notice, everything on public land was removed. In the case of buildings, notices were given. Further the law provides some days and appellate remedy in the case of building as per the Act. [73] As "houses and other permanent structures were targeted" Advocate Dushyant Dave raised this as a primary point before the court. [74]
Farm leader and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait warned the government that if the unjust use of bulldozers doesn't stop, tractors will be used by farmers to stop them. [75] Opposition leaders in response also stated the headquarters of BJP should be demolished and that it was BJP who allowed illegal constructions in Delhi in areas they had held for years. [76] [77] Akhilesh Yadav said that BJP should make the bulldozer its emblem and that it was distracting the Chief Minister from more important governance matters. [78] [79] Manish Sisodia said that the bulldozer was being used as a tool of extortion. [80] Names such as "Bulldozernath" or "the lord of bulldozers" were used. [81] The bulldozer was connected to bulldozing the "dreams of the youth" and being "anti-women". [81] Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind filed two petitions in the Supreme Court of India. [82] [73] On 24 April 2022, Aam Aadmi Party conducted "foot marches" in all the wards of Delhi. [83] Brinda Karat, an Indian politician, has claimed that BJP aims to vilify Muslims through these actions. [84]
Newslaundry , an Indian media watchdog, reported on the response of sections of the Indian media and their coverage of the events and how certain anchors supported the proceedings. [85] Anjana Om Kashyap, a media professional, climbed on board the bulldozers at the Jahangirpuri site and started asking the drivers questions. [86] During one of the demolitions in Uttar Pradesh, a district magistrate (an Indian Administrative Service officer) clicked a selfie, and shared it with the caption "Yeh Hum Hai, Yeh Humaari Car Hai Aur Hamaari Party Ho Rahi Hai" [lower-alpha 6] (transl. This is us, this is our car, our party is happening here). [88]
The timing of the Jahangirpuri demolitions, four days after communal clashes in the same area, "reads extremely suspicious", says political commentator N. S. Moorthy . [89] The Supreme Court status quo intervention brought immediate relief. However this order does not seem to make the judiciary the answer to the larger overarching questions related to the perceived targeting of sections of the population, more that what is already being seen. [89]
Yogi Adityanath is an Indian Hindu monk and politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party who has been serving as the 21st and current chief minister of Uttar Pradesh since 19 March 2017. He is the longest serving chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, who is currently running his tenure for over six years, surpassing Sampurnanand.
Lalji Tandon was an Indian politician who served as the 18th Governor of Madhya Pradesh and 28th Governor of Bihar. He had also served as a member of parliament from 1996 until 2014 and as the Leader of the Opposition of the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh from 2003 until 2007. He was a member of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a protégé of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Amitabh Thakur is an ex-Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and a political activist. He was given compulsory retirement in March 2021. He was working as IG Civil Defence at that time. During service Amitabh was known for his strict adherence to rules and regulations as also for his work in the field of administrative accountability.
Rajendra Pratap Singh, popularly known as Moti Singh, is an Indian politician affiliated to the Bhartiya Janata Party.He represents Patti assembly constituency of Pratapgarh district. He has been elected as the member of legislative assembly from the same constituency for four times in a row. In his fourth attempt for re-election there were errors in counting, which was later cleared by the high court. The then MLA was removed and the seat was left vacant after the decision of High Court. He won the 2017 elections from the same seat and became a Cabinet Minister in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Cabinet. Previously, Shri. Singh served as Uttar Pradesh state Minister of Agriculture in 2003. He was cabinet minister in First Yogi Adityanath ministry.
Swati Singh is an Indian politician and Minister of State for Woman welfare NRI, Flood Control, Agriculture export, Agriculture Marketing, Agriculture Foreign Trade and state minister in the Ministry of Women Welfare, Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Welfare in the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
The Uttar Pradesh Council of Ministers is the council in 18th Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath since 25 March 2022. As per the Constitution of India, the Uttar Pradesh Council of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, can have maximum 60 members.
Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan Singh is an Indian politician and member of 9th, 13th, 15th and 17th Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. And currently serving as Minister of Dairy Development, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries in Yogi Adityanath ministry. He represents the Chhata constituency as a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He was previously a member of the Bahujan Samaj Party and was a cabinet minister in the government led by chief minister Mayawati.
Ashok Katariya is an Indian politician from the state of Uttar Pradesh and member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and he has served as Transport Minister with Independent Charge and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of Uttar Pradesh till March 2022.
Jaiveer Singh is an Indian politician and member of the 18th Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party & represented the Mainpuri Sadar Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He was appointed the Minister of Tourism & Culture in the Government of Uttar Pradesh. He entered politics in 1984 & after that, he was elected as MLA from Ghiror in 2002 & appointed State Minister in the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2003. He completed his tenure by 2006. He performed his duty as Minister of State with Independent Charge for Irrigation Department in the Government of Uttar Pradesh from 2007 to 2012.
Vijay Kumar Mishra is an Indian gangster and politician who has represented Gyanpur constituency on four terms as a member of Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. In November 2023, he was convivted for rape by a special MP/MLA court Bhadohi
Legislative Assembly elections were held in Uttar Pradesh from 10 February to 7 March 2022 in seven phases to elect all 403 members for the 18th Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the results were declared on 10 March 2022.
Awanish Kumar Awasthi is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, from the 1987 batch.
Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University, Gorakhpur, formerly State Ayush University, Uttar Pradesh, is an affiliating State University located in Gorakhpur. It was established through the Uttar Pradesh Act No. 6 of 2020, specializing in Ayurveda, yoga & naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and homoeopathy (AYUSH). It was renamed as Maha Yogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University, Gorakhpur by the Uttar Pradesh Act No. 6 of 2021.
Sanjay Nishad is an Indian politician serving as a cabinet minister in the Second Yogi Adityanath ministry. He has been a member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council since 2021. As a member of the Nishad caste, he founded the NISHAD Party in 2016.
Dr Daya Shankar Mishra known as Dayalu is an Indian politician from Ghazipur (Varanasi) and a Minister of State in Second Yogi Adityanath ministry. He hails from Varanasi. He had fought 2007 and 2012 elections from Varanasi South over Indian National Congress symbol.
Sanjay Singh Gangwar is an Indian politician and a member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Pilibhit since March 2017 representing Bharatiya Janata Party. He is also a Minister of State in Second Yogi Adityanath ministry.
A Hindu–Muslim clash occurred in Delhi's Jahangirpuri area on 16 April 2022, in the midst of a Hindu procession on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. The clash took place during the last of three processions organised that day by Bajrang Dal, a militant right wing Hindu nationalist organization. The procession, whose members were reportedly brandishing swords and pistols, halted near a mosque where Muslims were holding Ramadan prayers, while blasting music from loudspeakers and shouting abusive slogans. A conflict broke out, during which both groups pelted the other with stones and other objects; a few shots were fired as well. A number of people were injured, including a police officer. Twenty three people were arrested, including two juveniles.
Chhatrapal Singh, also known as Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, is an Indian social worker, politician, and former minister of state for revenue of Uttar Pradesh. He was a member of the Seventeenth Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. He represents the Baheri Assembly constituency of Uttar Pradesh and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Baba Gambhirnath was an Indian Hindu saint of the Guru Gorakhnath tradition, who was known for his contributions to Yoga and knowledge. He served as the Peethadhishwar (head) of Gorakhnath Math, a temple of the Nath monastic order within the Nath tradition. He was revered as a great Siddhapurush of the 20th century within the Nath sect. He was the guru of Digvijay Nath.
On 1 November 2023, a 22-year-old B.Tech student of IIT-BHU was allegedly waylaid, stripped and gang-raped. They also filmed the girl at gunpoint, in Banaras district, Uttar Pradesh, India, by three Members of the BJP IT Cell.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: others (link)...the liberal use of bulldozers to demolish properties of alleged perpetrators of crime (many from a particular community)...