Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a sharp attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, questioning the legitimacy of the government’s use of bulldozers to demolish properties in the state. Yadav questioned whether the Chief Minister’s residence had received proper approval, challenging the government’s actions while raising concerns about transparency. His remarks came just a day after the Supreme Court questioned the legality of demolishing someone’s house simply because they are an accused.
“These people used to scare others with bulldozers, used to demolish people’s houses in various places, but is the map of the Chief Minister’s residence approved? Tell us when it was passed, show the papers,” demanded Akhilesh Yadav, highlighting the discrepancy in the government’s approach. He accused the Yogi government of utilizing bulldozers for vengeance against those the Chief Minister wished to target, linking the actions to the Supreme Court’s recent pronouncements on the matter.
The SP chief also challenged the government, asking whether they would apologize for their use of bulldozers, which he alleged was driven by personal vendetta. This followed a statement made by Yogi Adityanath, who had taken a swipe at Akhilesh Yadav, suggesting that ‘not everyone has the heart to handle a bulldozer’ in response to the SP chief’s previous comment about sending all ‘bulldozers’ to Gorakhpur after 2027.
Akhilesh Yadav countered this remark by pointing out that a bulldozer, lacking intelligence, is controlled by a human operator. “The people of Uttar Pradesh can change the steering of someone’s bulldozer,” he stated, subtly suggesting that the fate of the government could be decided by the electorate.
This recent political spat has come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter. The apex court, while hearing petitions regarding the use of bulldozers by authorities to demolish properties, ruled that properties of accused individuals cannot be demolished even after conviction, questioning the practice altogether. The court has sought suggestions from concerned parties to formulate nationwide guidelines.
The Supreme Court bench, composed of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan, questioned the logic of demolishing properties based solely on accusations, reiterating that such action is not permissible even if the accused is convicted. However, the court clarified that it would not protect illegal structures obstructing public roads. This ongoing legal battle, coupled with the political tension, casts a spotlight on the controversial use of bulldozers in Uttar Pradesh, raising concerns about transparency, due process, and the potential for misuse of power.
