A demolition drive to remove squatters from a site near Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, allocated for a housing project for MLAs, has snowballed into a controversy, with BJP and Congress leaders trading blame. The issue has signalled divisions within the BJP and provided the Opposition with an opportunity to press against the ruling party.
On June 29, at 4 am, the Raipur district administration demolished 77 dwellings in Nakti village, around 5 km from the airport in Nava Raipur. The administration claimed the dwellings were encroaching on government land and that eviction notices had been served. It said alternative stay was being arranged for the evictees.
The demolished dwellings had come up over nine hectares of government land in Dharsiwa block of Raipur. The same land was part of a proposed 15 hectare colony for MLAs.
Nakti, located near Mana in Nava Raipur, has witnessed a sharp rise in real-estate value since top government functionaries are slated to shift to Nava Raipur. The Chhattisgarh government has plans to make Nava Raipur the capital city in due course.
Dharsiwa assembly segment is represented by BJP MLA Anuj Sharma and falls under Raipur Lok Sabha constituency, whose MP Brijmohan Agarwal too belongs to the party.
The demolition drive had encountered stone-pelting, forcing police intervention. Residents claimed they had lived on that land for more than 20 years and received notices a long time ago, but did not anticipate demolition in the monsoon period. Many claimed they had built homes using grants under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
After the demolition, former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress visited the site and pledged support for those ousted. Taking a swipe at the BJP, he said: “The affected people went to the local MP, Brijmohan Agarwal, to demand justice and stop the demolition. Yet, the demolition took place. Had they instead approached finance minister O.P. Choudhary, the demolition would not have happened.”
Agarwal too came out openly in support of the evicted residents. He described the demolition as illegal and demanded action against officials.
MLA Sharma, meanwhile, told the media that the construction of PMAY houses on government land was a separate issue from the problem of encroachment at the Nakti village site.
The controversy has offered ammo to the Congress, which has been looking to regain lost ground in Chhattisgarh, especially Raipur. In the state elections in 2018, the party had won all seven seats in Raipur district; in 2023, it drew a blank in the region.
Subscribe to India Today Magazine
– Ends
