Mallikarjun Kharge, Digvijay Singh strongly condemn BJP governments over their blatant disregard for the Constitution
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Amid growing outrage over the demolition of a bungalow and properties owned by Muslim leaders in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur, senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi slammed the bulldozer action describing it as “barbaric” and the “height of injustice”.
“If someone is accused of a crime, only the court can decide his crime and punishment. But punishing the accused’s family as soon as the accusation is made, taking away the roof from over their heads, not following the law, disobeying the court, demolishing the house of the accused as soon as the accusation is made — this is not justice. This is the height of barbarism and injustice,” tweeted Gandhi on Saturday.
A bungalow and three luxury cars owned by Congress leader Haji Shahzad Ali and other properties were demolished by the authorities in Chhatarpur on Thursday following allegations of stone pelting on the police during a protest against Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj’s blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Congress leader said that the bulldozer actions being unleashed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments are unacceptable and must stop.
“There should be a difference between the lawmakers, the lawkeepers, and the lawbreakers. Governments cannot behave like criminals. Obeying the law, constitution, democracy and humanity is the minimum condition of governance in a civilised society. One who cannot fulfill his duty can neither do good for the society nor the country. Bulldozer justice is completely unacceptable, it must stop,” she said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the bulldozer actions calling it “inhuman” and “unjust”.
Minorities are being targeted by the BJP through the bulldozer actions, Kharge said. “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,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha leader of the Opposition said that the bulldozers are being used to instill fear among the citizens.
“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,” he said.
Taking a dig at the allegation of stone pelting in the Chhatarpur case, senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh pointed out that BJP workers also pelted stones on the police force in Ranchi.
“I am against the bulldozer culture. The accused should be punished but the court has the right to punish, not any administrative officer or MP MLA sahab. Was Shahzad Ali’s house in Chhatarpur demolished because of stone pelting on the police or because of encroachment? The administration should disclose this,” he said.
A few days ago, the BJP government in Rajasthan demolished the rented house of a Muslim family because their son was allegedly involved in the stabbing of his classmate in Udaipur on 16 August.
