Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi’s Leader of Opposition, Atishi Marlena, was removed from a protest site by police on Friday while showing solidarity with residents of the Bhoomiheen Camp in South Delhi’s Kalkaji Extension. The protest was in response to a demolition drive carried out by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is targeting illegal huts following directives from the Delhi High Court.
Slum Dwellers Face Eviction as DDA Acts on Court Order
The DDA had issued eviction notices to the residents of the Bhoomiheen Camp, giving them three days—June 8, 9, and 10—to vacate their homes. According to the notice, failure to comply would lead to the forceful demolition of their dwellings.
Officials stated that Atishi was trying to move towards an unsafe area near the demolition site, prompting the police to remove her from the scene.
#WATCH | Delhi: Former CM Atishi says, “BJP is going to demolish these jhuggis tomorrow and I am being jailed today because I am raising my voice for these slum dwellers. ‘BJP aur Rekha Gupta ko jhuggi waalon ki haay lagegi.’.. BJP will never come back.” https://t.co/x3anje89AG pic.twitter.com/Ofb3K8AXH3
— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2025
Atishi Slams BJP Over “Arbitrary” Demolition
Speaking at the protest, Atishi said, “I came here to support the thousands of families who will be homeless today because of BJP’s arbitrary demolition drive. These slum dwellers will never forgive the BJP. It will never return to power.”
Residents and activists at the site expressed concern about the short notice and the lack of proper rehabilitation plans. Many said they were unsure where to go or what to do next.
The DDA has defended the demolition, saying it’s acting under court orders. They also said that they are only removing settlements that are deemed illegal or unsafe. But for the families living there, many for years, the legal language offers little comfort.
What’s unfolding is not just a housing issue but a deeply political one. AAP has accused the BJP-led central government of uprooting the economically unfortunate without offering any proper resettlement plan.
Emotions are running high on the ground, with residents packing up their belongings. They are unsure of where they’ll go next. They fear that they’ll be left out in the open with nowhere to turn.
