New Delhi: A delegation of the Congress leaders visited violence-hit Jahangirpuri on Thursday but were stopped by the police from going to the area where an anti-encroachment drive was conducted by the North MCD a day before.
The Congress delegation included former union minister Ajay Maken and AICC in-charge of the state unit Shaktisinh Gohil.
Stating that the drive was an attack on the poor and their means of livelihood, Maken told reporters that the drive was conducted by violating the rules, PTI reported.
Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of lying, Maken said: “This demolition is illegal. I was an urban development minister too, and I know how laws work. They cannot do this without any prior notice.”
“Jehangirpur demolition without notice/procedure is entirely illegal. It is clear in the judgment ‘AJAY MAKEN vs UNION OF INDIA’….Tomorrow morning, along with other senior leaders, I will visit the site Sorry for not being there today,” tweeted Maken earlier.
Gohil too took potshots at the BJP and said that the anti-encroachment drive was an attempt by the saffron party to divert attention from rising inflation in the country.
Imran Pratapgarhi, a member of the Congress delegation, said that they would meet the affected families.
“Later, we will submit a report to (Congress interim president) Sonia Gandhi,” he added, ANI reported.
Some Congress leaders, including Anil Kumar, sat on a dharna at the spot but were asked by the police to move.
Earlier on Saturday, the area witnessed violent clashes, including stone pelting, arson and firing, between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession.
At least eight police personnel and a local resident were among those who sustained injuries in the incident.