New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday detained Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mukesh Ahlawat during the demolition drive in Northwest Delhi’s Mangolpuri, news agency ANI reported. As per the police statement, the MLA came to ask about the need to use JCBs and he was detained in order to prevent the situation from getting jeopardised.
“The anti-encroachment drive is going on, local MLA (AAP MLA Mukesh Ahlawat) came here & said what's the need for using JCBs. To prevent the situation from getting jeopardised, we have detained the MLA,” DCP Sameer Sharma of the Outer district told ANI.
While talking to ANI, Ahlawat questioned the need to use bulldozers as people had already vacated the area.
“When people have vacated the area, why are they (North MCD) creating inconvenience to them by using Bulldozers surrounding them. We're against it & it should be stopped. They need to prove first that there's encroachment,” Ahlawat said.
The demolition drive in Mangolpuri is being led by the North Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The Delhi municipal corporation’s anti-encroachment drive will go on till May 13. Today, the areas which are under the demolition drive today are Mangolpuri and New Friends Colony (SDMC).
It comes a day after the demolition drive was run in South Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh where people came out on roads to stop the bulldozers.
After the protests, the demolition drive was called off by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). Meanwhile, the police filed an FIR against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan for obstructing the demolition drive.