Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) alleged that the religious places and monuments are being targeted by the government in the name of removing encroachments
Team Clarion
AHMEDABAD – The authorities in Gujarat’s Bet Dwarka district have demolished around 335 structures including Dargahs (Muslim shrine), houses and commercial buildings over this week declaring them “encroachments”.
The mega demolition drive was carried out at Balapar village in Bet Dwarka Island since last Saturday.
Harsh Sanghavi, home minister of Gujarat, took to X to post videos of the demolitions while highlighting the number of structures demolished by the authorities.
According Sanghavi, the demolitions were carried out at 1,00,642 sq m land worth Rs 53,04,25,500. The demolitions include 314 residential building, 9 commercial building and 12 religious structures.
“Under Hon CM @Bhupendrapbjp leadership, this land will soon host new amenities for the people. A great step towards a better future for all!,” he said.
However, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) said that the religious places and monuments are being targeted by the government in the name of removing illegal encroachments.
“In a massive and continuing demolition drive at Bet Dwarka in Gujarat, residential properties worth ₹13,12,72,000 and the Hazrat Panj Peer Dargah were demolished on Sunday alone — no need to say that Muslim places of worship and Muslim monuments are inevitably the target,” said Riyaz Farangipete, national secretary of SDPI.
He said that the government focused on the construction in other parts of the world. However, the Modi government focused on demolitions and destructions.
“Bulldozer has become the Vajrayudh of the BJP rulers, and ‘encroachment’ and ‘unauthorised or illegal construction, their trump card. Invariably, those who get bulldozed are Muslims,” said Farangipetete.
The demolitions began under heavy police cover. Police personnel from other districts were also brought and 1,000 personnel deployed on Bet Dwarka.
Speaking to reporters, Nitesh Pandey, superintendent of police, Devbhumi Dwarka district, said, “The district administration undertook demolitions in the Balapar area of Bet Dwarka. To maintain law and order, we deputed some 1,000 personnel, including the SRP and marine task force. To maintain coastal security, police boat patrols continued and we are also using drones for surveillance.”
According to reports, as part of the demolition drive, police cordoned the area off from Friday with no outsiders allowed in.
The island has become more accessible after the Sudarshan Setu — India’s longest cable-stayed bridge — was opened last year on Feb 25 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, connecting Bet Dwarka to the Okha coast. Lakhs of devotees visit Bet Dwarka every year and these numbers are increasing after the bridge opened.
Earlier, the demolition drive was carried out in Oct 2022. In September this year, nine religious shrines, including mosques and dargahs, were razed as part of a demolition drive to clear alleged encroachments in the Veraval area of Gir-Somnath district in Gujarat. A contempt plea was filed against the Gujarat government for illegally demolishing the religious places.
In November last year, the Supreme Court laid down guidelines directing that no demolition should be carried out without prior 15-day notice to the owner of the property and without following the statutory guidelines.
The Supreme Court said the notice shall be served upon the owner by registered post and fixed on the outer portion of the structure. The notice shall contain the nature of unauthorised construction, details of the specific violation, and grounds for demolition. The demolition has to be videographed, and violation of guidelines will invite contempt.
“Rule of law and the rights to citizens against arbitrary action of the executive. Legal process can’t condone such action… Rule of law mandates against arbitrary action. Violations can promote lawlessness, and the protection of civil rights is essential for protecting constitutional democracy,” a bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan said.