Samajwadi Party councillor pleads for delay to save wedding marquee from demolition
Team Clarion
KANPUR – Bulldozer operations targeting alleged illegal encroachments have resumed in Kanpur, with Mayor Pramla Pandey leading the charge. On February 1, the mayor visited the Babu Purwa’s Bagai Eidgah area with a bulldozer to demolish “illegal” settlements. The operation stretched from Bagai Eidgah to Bakarganj Crossing.
During the demolition drive, an incident added tension to the already charged atmosphere. A visibly upset mayor ordered the removal of a marquee erected for a wedding ceremony at the Eidgah ground. As the bulldozer approached the marquee, Samajwadi Party (SP) Councillor Aqeel Shanu quickly intervened requesting a day to remove the structures. “Please give us one more day,” Councillor Shanu requested, his hands folded in a sign of desperation. After a brief exchange, the mayor agreed, granting the councillor the respite he sought.
The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral. In the footage, Councillor Shanu can be seen and heard requesting the mayor to show leniency. “Just one more day, Mayor Madam,” he is heard pleading.
The mayor’s crackdown on illegal settlements has sparked mixed reactions. While the demolition drive aims to clear encroachments from public spaces, questions have been raised about the process and legality of the actions. It remains unclear whether the mayor had issued prior notices in accordance with the law, which is a key requirement for such demolitions.
Adding further complexity to the situation, the office of SP MLA Hassan Rumi from the Cantonment Assembly was located near the Eidgah area at the time of the operation. However, despite the proximity of a political figure, the mayor’s focus remained on the illegal settlements, without any apparent deviation.
As the bulldozer operations continue in Kanpur, the questions surrounding the speed and execution of these demolitions persist. The dramatic scene at the Eidgah, where the mayor’s bulldozer was momentarily halted, has ignited local debates on the fairness and transparency of the demolition process.
The issue remains ongoing, with the mayor continuing her drive to clear illegal encroachments while facing political pressure and scrutiny from the public. The people of Kanpur are watching closely to see how this will unfold, and whether more interventions will be made by local political figures like Councillor Shanu to halt further demolitions.
