India Now Identified With Minority Persecution, Islamophobia: Shashi Tharoor
Mumbai: Congress’ Shashi Tharoor criticised the Centre for carrying out the anti-encroachment drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri and called the action “unconstitutional”. ”
Noting that the Supreme Court had today stayed an anti-encroachment drive in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area, the Thiruvananthapuram MP also said that the actions of the authorities were “illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional”. Also Read: Demolition Drive In Delhi’s Jahangirpuri Stops After SC Steps In For 2nd Time
Tharoor today alleged, “India’s image across the world has been tarnished. Everything I hear from my friends abroad is very negative. We are being identified with minority persecution and Islamophobia. We at one point used to be respected for our democracy and diversity. BJP is responsible,” Tharoor alleged today.
He said the government has today lost the trust of many citizens with its “shameful” conduct. “The government it has been elected to form has chosen to destroy it. The job of the government is to build the nation, not to bulldoze it,” he said.
“Houses and shops were destroyed. This is an outright criminal act for which serious action should be taken. This is the new technology of intimidation that is going to burn our country. This is an attack on the values of the Constitution of India, Tharoor said.
Despite the court directing the authorities to stop the operation, it continued for a long time in the absence of a written order.
“There was an order by the Supreme Court that status quo should be maintained and the demolition should not proceed, but 4 hours after the issue of that order, the demolition continued. This is illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional since no notice was given to the victims,” said Tharoor.
“Investigate properly, find out who’s responsible, take them to Court, give them notices. If the final punishment is decided to be demolition, which is a very inhumane public punishment, then let there at least be proper notices so people can make arrangements,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, several structures were demolished by bulldozers in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area during an anti-encroachment drive carried out by the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation. Amid heavy deployment of paramilitary forces and police personnel, the operation continued until the authorities received a “written order” from the Supreme Court to stop it.
The apex court had also agreed to hear a petition challenging the civic body’s action allegedly aimed against those involved in Saturday’s communal clashes in the area.
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