Campaign against slum demolition in Delhi

This winter, in the biting cold, yet again there were attempts to demolish slums in Delhi – but the attempts at demolition in Wazirpur were stalled by the timely intervention and struggles by CPI(ML) and other democratic forces. Early in the morning on 16 December, the Delhi Police came with bulldozers to the Wazirpur area and started demolishing slums, destroying homes, and physically throwing people (including old residents and children) out of their homes. The Northern Railway, which ordered the demolition, did not even give the mandatory notice to the slum dwellers before starting the demolition.

As CPI(ML) activists received news of this demolition, AISA and AICCTU comrades went to the Northern Railways office. Meanwhile, the bulldozers were physically stopped by CPI(ML) activists and slum dwellers in Wazirpur. A case was also filed in the Delhi High Court against further demolition of the slum. Despite the fact that the demolition had been physically stalled on 16 December, there were indications that the Police would come once again on 20 December to enforce the demolition. Therefore, CPI(ML) called for a protest at the Wazirpur slum on 20 December, to collectively oppose any demolition drive. The unity of the slum dwellers and the consistent struggles of CPI(ML) in the area ensured that the Delhi High Court finally puts a stay order on the demolition, thus staying any immediate displacement of the slum dwellers.

Back-to-previous-article
Top