Indira Colony Residents Protest Demolition Drive Amid Monsoon

Anusha Paul

Published on Jul 22, 2025, 04:39 PM | 4 min read

New Delhi: Braving heavy monsoon, hundreds of residents from Indira Colony in Punjabi Bagh marched to the Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s residence today on July 22, 2025 under the banner of Aawaas Adhikar Jan Andolan, demanding an immediate halt to a demolition notice issued by the Indian Railways. The residents, joined by representatives from various political and mass organisations, allege the notice threatens eviction without any rehabilitation — in violation of both legal and humanitarian obligations.

Indira Colony is a Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB)-notified basti (ghetto), home to thousands of working-class families for decades. Despite this, residents are now at risk of being rendered homeless due to an “illegal and inhumane” demolition notice served by the Railways.

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Leaders and activists from Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI(ML), Communist Party of India, Democratic Youth Federation of India, All India Democratic Women's Association, Students Federation of India, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, and AIl India Central Council of Trade Unions addressed the gathering, slamming the “bulldozer politics” of the BJP-led central government. CPI(M) leaders Asha Sharma and Siddheshwar Shukla, DYFI Delhi Secretary Aman Saini, CPI(ML)’s R.P. Singh and Shweta Raj, SFI's Ankit, CPI leader Sanjeev Rana, and AIDWA’s Meena were among those who addressed the protestors.

"This is not just about demolishing homes — it’s about demolishing futures," said Siddheshwar Shukla, spokesperson for Aawaas Adhikar Jan Andolan. "If this demolition goes through, children will lose their schools, youth will lose jobs, women will lose safety and families will be pushed into unimaginable precarity. We will not allow this injustice to continue unchecked."

A delegation of community leaders and activists submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s office, demanding immediate intervention. The delegation, comprising Siddheshwar Shukla, Asha Sharma, Govind Jha, DYFI leader Rikta and SFI leader Tushar, and local residents Shambu Prasad, Phoolwati, Hira Lal, and Pramod, called on the Delhi Government to act in accordance with DUSIB policies and legal commitments that mandate rehabilitation before any eviction can take place.

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The Chief Minister’s Office reportedly assured the delegation that the CM would write to the Railways regarding the issue.

Citing a standing undertaking given by the Railways in the Supreme Court as part of the M.C. Mehta case, activists accused the Railways of violating its commitment not to evict slum dwellers without a rehabilitation plan in place. They also referred to a 7 July 2025 Delhi High Court order in a similar case from Wazirpur, where the Court questioned the Railways’ failure to comply with guidelines laid down in Ajay Maken v. Union of India.

"The Railways are not above the law," Asha Sharma asserted. "They have a binding obligation to coordinate with the Delhi Government and the Ministry of Urban Development to ensure humane rehabilitation. Instead, they are cutting power, threatening demolition in the middle of the monsoon, and ignoring court directives. It is nothing short of state-sponsored violence against the urban poor."

The protesters’ core demand was unequivocal: No eviction or demolition without proper rehabilitation. Aawaas Adhikar Jan Andolan warned that if the Railways do not revoke the notice and restore basic amenities immediately, a broader movement will be launched in alliance with affected communities across Delhi.

"We are not begging — we are asserting our rights," said DYFI State Secretary Aman Saini. "If they think we will go quietly, they are mistaken. This is just the beginning of a larger, united struggle to defend our homes, our rights, and our dignity."

delhi demolition

A Pattern of Demolitions Under BJP Rule

This protest is the latest in a series of confrontations across Delhi and other parts of India where bulldozers have become the symbol of the BJP government’s aggressive urban policy. Despite widespread criticism, the BJP-led union government and several BJP-ruled states have continued large-scale demolition drives in working-class neighbourhoods, often without notice or adequate rehabilitation.

Such demolitions disproportionately affect the urban poor, violating their constitutional rights and flouting Supreme Court and High Court directives. The ongoing threats to Indira Colony resemble recent actions in Wazirpur, Tughlakabad, and Jahangirpuri, where similar tactics of intimidation, electricity disconnection, and use of police force have been deployed.

"This is not governance — it’s forced displacement disguised as development," reiterated Aman Saini. "We are calling it out for what it is: a targeted assault on the poor under the garb of infrastructure and cleanliness. If the BJP and Railways continue down this path, they should be prepared for a united resistance from every basti, every street, and every corner of Delhi."