AAP Accuses BJP of Snatching Homes From the Poor, Protests Delhi Demolition Drive
New Delhi: A protest was organised at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday (June 29), with the Aam Aadmi Party gathering around 1,000 people to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) ongoing demolition drive targeting slum settlements and other properties in the national capital.
The demonstration saw the participation of former chief minister and party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, along with senior AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjay Singh and others.
Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal accused the BJP of betraying the people of Delhi. "Before the Lok Sabha elections, I had released a video urging people not to vote for the BJP. I had warned them that the BJP has its eyes on your land and if they come to power, they will demolish your slums within a year. But what I predicted for one year, they have done in just five months,” he said.
Kejriwal further alleged that the BJP's ultimate goal is to clear all slum settlements from Delhi.
The former chief minister also invoked the legacy of Jantar Mantar as a protest site. “This is the same Jantar Mantar where the Anna Andolan shook the Congress government. If the BJP does not stop these demolitions, Rekha Gupta’s government in Delhi will not survive even three years,” he added.
MLA Atishi claimed that the demolition drive reflects the BJP's disregard for the urban poor. “The BJP has made it clear that they are against the poor and working-class people of Delhi. They want to snatch away their homes and displace them under the guise of development,” she said.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj argued that the demolition drive threatens not just slum dwellers but the functioning of the entire city. “From housekeeping staff to security guards and helpers in homes – everyone lives in these jhuggis. If you demolish their homes, Delhi will come to a standstill,” he warned.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of acting with arrogance. “This is not just a demolition drive, it is a demolition of people's lives, dreams, and dignity,” Singh said, vowing that AAP would not remain silent.
The protest rally against the demolition of slums in the city, at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Sunday, June 29, 2025. Photo: PTI/Ravi Choudhary
Legal battle in Batla House
The demolition controversy has also reached South-East Delhi's Batla House, where earlier this month, several properties on Muradi Road were served demolition notices by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), triggering local protests.
Speaking to The Wire, Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan alleged that the DDA misrepresented facts in court. “The DDA and other authorities have submitted wrong demarcation details before the Supreme Court. This land has been authorised since 1981,” Khan claimed.
He added that the matter is currently sub judice. “We approached the district court and high court and have secured a stay on demolitions till July 10. At the next hearing, we are planning to present all the documents showing which lands and properties are authorised,” Khan said.
Citizens raise concerns over 'anti-poor policies'
The protest at Jantar Mantar also drew residents, councillors and activists from different parts of the city who expressed their anger over the demolitions and broader governance issues.
Chhaya Gaurav Sharma, councillor from Brahampuri, described the demolition drive as part of a larger pattern of neglect towards Delhi's poor. “This is not just about slums. This is a fight between the capitalist government and the poor of Delhi,” she said. Sharma also highlighted other issues such as “sudden hikes in private school fees and worsening power cuts”.
Prem Babu Saxena, a resident of Babarpur, alleged that houses beyond slum settlements have been razed in the name of development. “In the name of slum demolition, they have destroyed many houses that were not even slums. We are here to raise the voice of the common people of Delhi,” he said.
As the demolition drive continues to spark protests and legal battles across the city, AAP leaders have indicated that they will intensify their opposition in the coming weeks.
Arsalan Shamsi is an intern at The Wire.
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