Bulldozer Havoc on Homes of Poor Must End

CPIML legislative group leader Mahboob Alam said on 11 September that we have appealed repeatedly to the Chief Minister of the newly formed Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar that the bulldozer terror in Bihar should end, but that does not appear to be happening. Bulldozers are continuing to wreak havoc on the homes of the poor; the government is making no change in its actions, and CPIML can never accept this.

Diktats have been issued to demolish jhuggis in Darbhanga, Sugouli in Eastern Champaran, Beguserai, Khagaria and now Babu Tola in Adalat Ghat, Patna. We have proof that BJP-minded people are bent on destroying the huts of the poor. It appears that the administration has become completely BJP-ized. The Bihar government says no eviction will be done without prior alternative arrangements, but the opposite is happening on the ground.

The High Court issued orders to remove the homes of 115 people in Panjiarwa village in Sugouli, of which 40 homes were demolished by the District administration on 7 September without alternative arrangements. The villagers have appealed in the High Court for a stay order. The matter was to come up for hearing on 12 September but administration did not wait and came to demolish the homes on 11 September. The administration is bent on this anti-people action at the behest of BJP people. Such BJP-ization of the administration is extremely worrisome.

Similarly, a diktat was issued on 10 September to demolish the huts of the poor settled for decades in Babu Tola, Adalat Ghat, Patna and administrative officials came to threaten them on the evening of 10 September. The people protested and contacted CPIML legislative group leader Mahboob Alam who reached the spot immediately and objected to Municipal and administrative action and said that the poor cannot be evicted without alternative arrangements. Our party stands firmly with the poor. Led by CPIML leaders, the basti dwellers kept Ashok Rajpath blocked for 20 minutes. Comrade Mahboob Alam assured the people that he would speak with the DM on this matter.