Today, Tuesday, 22 July,
A protest march was held at the Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s residence under the banner of Aawaas Adhikar Jan Andolan to save Indira Colony — a DUSIB – notified settlement in the Punjabi Bagh area, that is facing the threat of eviction due to an notice issued by the Railways termed by the protestors as arbitrary.
Despite heavy rains, representatives of CPI(M), CPI(ML), CPI, CITU, DYFI, AIDWA, Aicctu and hundreds of residents came together under the banner of ” Aawaas Adhikar Jan Andolan”, to demand justice.
CPI(M) Delhi leaders Asha Sharma and Siddheshwar Shukla, DYFI Delhi Secretary Aman Saini, CPI(M) North West LC Secretary Govind Jha, CPI(ML) leaders R.P.Singh and Shweta Raj, CPI leader Sanjeev Rana, AIDWA leader Meena and local residents Manoj, Anita, and others addressed the gathering and questioned the triple engine BJP government’s bulldozer policies.
Thousands of hardworking families, who have called this colony home for decades will be rendered homeless, their children’s education and their youth’s futures will be destroyed and livelihoods will be lost.
A delegation composed of Siddheshwar Shukla, Asha Sharma from CPI(M). Rikta and Tushar from DYFI Delhi State committee, residents Shambu Prasad, Phoolwati, Hira Lal and Pramod also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, urging immediate intervention to halt the illegal demolition drive and to ensure proper and humane rehabilitation in accordance with DUSIB’s policies.
The delegation informed the CMO that the Railways’ notice is inhumane and unacceptable.
Despite the government’s “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makan” promises, DUSIB policy and court directives mandating in-situ or nearby rehabilitation, tactics like cutting electricity supply or threatening demolition with bulldozers or police force during monsoons are nothing short of an attack on the urban poor.
The delegation was assured that the CM will write to railways to raise this issue.
Crucially, the Railway administration has a standing undertaking in the Supreme Court, given as part of the M.C. Mehta case, that it will not demolish slums without taking a decision on rehabilitation.
This undertaking also committed the Railways to inter-departmental coordination with the Ministry of Urban Development and Govt of NCT of Delhi to facilitate such rehabilitation.
However, the Railways have yet to act on this crucial commitment.
Furthermore, in its order of 7 July, 2025, in the Chandrashekhar Azad Colony, Wazirpur matter (W.P.(C) 8418/2025), the Delhi High Court once again questioned the Railways regarding the steps taken in compliance with the directions issued in Ajay Maken v. Union of India concerning the rehabilitation of slum dwellers residing on railway land.
This clearly demonstrates a pattern of non-compliance.
“No Eviction or Demolition Without Proper Rehabilitation” – this is our resolute message said the leaders of the demonstrators.
If the Railway’s demolition drive in Indira Colony is not halted, and the order to cut amenities is not taken back, it will be unequivocally clear that the Government of India, Delhi Government and the Railway administration are directly responsible for the displacement of Delhi’s hardworking citizens said the leaders. The Aawaas Adhikar Jan Andolan will be compelled to launch a multi-faceted struggle alongside the affected communities against this grave injustice reiterated AWAAZ leaders
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