Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Minister Atishi was detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday while protesting against the demolition drive at Bhoomihin Camp in Kalkaji, South Delhi. The protest erupted after the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) issued eviction notices to the residents of the camp.
Before her detention, Atishi made a strong statement condemning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. “BJP is going to demolish these jhuggis tomorrow, and I am being jailed today because I am raising my voice for these slum dwellers,” she said. “BJP aur Rekha Gupta ko jhuggi waalon ki haay lagegi (BJP and Rekha Gupta will be cursed by the slum dwellers). BJP will never return.”
The demolition orders follow a directive from the Delhi High Court, leading the DDA to serve official notices to residents of the Bhoomihin Camp. The notices, dated June 8, instructed residents to vacate their premises voluntarily by June 10. The DDA warned that any property left behind would be removed and that it would not be responsible for any damage or loss.
The DDA also appealed for cooperation and a peaceful evacuation, stating the need to ensure a smooth process.
Backing Atishi’s stance, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP-led administration of “bulldozing people’s homes, shops, and livelihoods.”
This protest follows a similar demolition carried out on June 1 at the Madrasi Camp in Jangpura, where authorities acted on court orders to remove encroachments along the Barapulla drain—a move aimed at resolving severe flooding caused by narrowed water channels during monsoons.
The ongoing demolitions have ignited political and humanitarian concerns, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP of ignoring the plight of vulnerable communities.
