By Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI: The bulldozing of a Muslim’s palatial bungalow in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district has invited strong condemnation from opposition leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, and community leaders.
They have demanded an immediate end to this “Israeli practice” to terrorize Muslims and urged the Supreme Court to intervene to restore the rule of law and ensure justice. Israel has long practiced this modus operandi to prevent Palestinians from offering resistance against harassment at the hands of Israeli police and Jewish settlers.
On August 21, 2024, authorities in Chhatarpur demolished the residence of Shahzad Ali, a local Muslim leader, using a bulldozer. The action came in the wake of a clash between protesters and police outside the local Kotwali police station.
According to media reports, around 500 protesters from the Muslim community gathered outside the Kotwali police station on Wednesday evening, demanding that an FIR be filed against religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad and Islam during an event in Nashik, Maharashtra. The situation escalated into violence, with several police officers injured due to stone-pelting.
In response, authorities moved to demolish Shahzad Ali’s residence, described as a palatial house valued at around Rs 10 crore. Ali, a local leader whose political affiliations are disputed between the Congress and BJP, had his property, along with other assets belonging to him and his family, demolished.
Following the clash, Chhatarpur police launched a crackdown, reportedly arresting over 20 individuals and detaining several others. Over 150 people have been booked under serious charges, including those outlined in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The number of arrests is expected to increase as investigations continue.
Shahzad Ali’s Response
Shahzad Ali, the affected homeowner, expressed his anguish over the demolition. He stated, “The house was built over seven years. As soon as I went to the police station to submit a memorandum against someone who insulted the Prophet, the next day my house was bulldozed.” Ali added, “I would like to say to the government and administration that we are lovers of the Prophet. Even if our lives are taken, we won’t utter a word.”
In another statement, Ali questioned the legitimacy of the action, saying, “How did electricity and water reach an illegal construction? How was illegal construction allowed to continue for years? The government is oppressing Muslims by giving constitutional cover to unconstitutional acts. Unfortunately, our judiciary is turning a blind eye.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav defended the government’s actions, stating, “All I have to say is that no person is above the law. There is the rule of law. The government is taking action under the Constitutional provisions against those who break the law.”
Yadav added, “Construction work should be done after taking due approval. If you don’t take necessary approval for construction activity and if you become synonymous with terror in various ways, then the administration is also free to do its job.”
Opposition Leaders’ Reactions and Calls for Judicial Intervention
Several voices have called for the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter. Many commentators have raised concerns about the lack of due process and the apparent targeting of minorities, while others have highlighted the broader impact of such actions on families and communities.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, strongly condemned the action. She stated, “If someone is accused of a crime, then the punishment for his or her crime can only be decided in a court of law.” She added that the practice of “Bulldozer Nyay” is “completely unacceptable and should be stopped.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these sentiments, saying, “Demolishing someone’s home and rendering their family homeless is both inhumane and unjust. The repeated targeting of minorities in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling.”
Asaduddin Owaisi, MP and President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), condemned the incident, describing it as an act of brutality and injustice by the BJP-led state government. Speaking in Urdu in a video, he questioned the legality of the demolition and accused the BJP government of state-sponsored communalism. He alleged that the destruction of Ali’s home and damage to his vehicles were carried out in retaliation for his participation in a protest against alleged blasphemy. He criticized the state authorities for demolishing a legally permitted house without following due process. “The house, spanning 20,000 square feet, was destroyed without proper notice or legal procedure, violating Supreme Court guidelines on demolitions,” Owaisi asserted. He described the situation as a manifestation of authoritarian rule rather than adherence to the rule of law. “Governments must operate under the rule of law, not rule by mob. The BJP’s actions in Madhya Pradesh show a blatant disregard for constitutional norms,” Owaisi said.
The MIM chief further criticized the treatment of detainees in the region, claiming that they were subjected to public humiliation and forced to chant slogans. He warned that such practices undermine democratic principles and could provoke a backlash when the political tide shifts. Owaisi called upon the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the situation, emphasizing that state-sponsored communalism and unilateral demolitions have no place in a civilized society. He concluded with a strong message to the ruling BJP, stating, “The current government may wield power today, but future administrations may retaliate in kind. This destruction of homes and rights is a violation of the Constitution and must be rectified.”
Chandra Shekhar Aazad, MP and Bhim Army Chief, called on the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the incident, stating that the demolition violated the oath taken by the Chief Minister to uphold the Constitution. Strongly criticizing Madhya Pradesh CM, Aazad asserted that the demolition not only violates legal norms but also undermines the oath Mohan Yadav took upon assuming office.
Congress MP Imran Masood described the incident as “very unfortunate” and stated that the “bulldozer culture” is “destroying the country’s law.” Masood criticized the practice of demolishing properties without proper due process, calling it an attack on democracy and the rule of law. He also urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of these actions and to implement stringent measures against government officials involved in such practices. According to Masood, this bulldozer culture must end, and the Supreme Court’s intervention is crucial to restoring the rule of law and ensuring justice.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh commented, “The world’s largest democracy has turned into a ‘bulldozer regime.’ Now, above the High Court, Supreme Court, law, and constitution is the ‘BJP’s bulldozer.'”
Senior journalist Vir Sanghvi asked, “Is the Supreme Court going to take a stand on the principle of Bulldozer Injustice, where you demolish people’s homes without even the pretense of due process?”
Prof. Apoorvanand Jha emphasized, “Courts need to wake up after the MP state bulldozer crime. State authorities are making them redundant. They must restrain the state authorities and restore the primacy of the rule of law.”
Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, president of the All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat and former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, asked, “Which law of the land allows this one-sided terrorizing of one community?”
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde remarked, “If a Chief Minister can instruct the administration to bring your house down, it is the rule of law that has been bulldozed.”
Journalist Zakir Ali Tyagi pointed out the rapidity of the action, stating, “Within hours, the administration turned this magnificent mansion and vehicles into rubble because the owner was Muslim.”
Author and environmentalist Manoj Arora stated, “SC must intervene. These crimes are not even proven. You can’t bring the family (including children) to the streets just on the basis of accusations.”
Dharmesh Dixit wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “When authorities demolish someone’s home as a form of punishment (not related to alleged crime), it doesn’t just impact the accused; it also severely affects their family members, including innocent children and other dependents who have no direct involvement in the alleged offense.”
Activist and writer Samiullah Khan outlined three demands for justice in the matter: reconstruction of the demolished house at the expense of the Chief Minister, compensation for damaged vehicles by the collector who signed the demolition order, and suspension and arrest of the police officer who made detained individuals chant slogans.
Dr. Raza Khan, an academician and activist, described the action as “unjust, illegal, and inhuman,” while advocate Jasim G Shaikh stated that the use of state power to demolish property belonging to a particular community is “unjust and motivated by religious discrimination.”
The incident has reignited debates about due process, minority rights, and the balance of power between the executive and judiciary in India’s democratic system.
