Bulldozer Politics And The Convenient Use Of Bulldozer Justice System
In recent years, the meaning of politics and justice has changed drastically. One cannot fully understand these two terms simply based on the definition given in the old-school dictionaries but, they are the most relevant debate topics. Addition of a new yet problematic political trend has gained popularity in India: Bulldozer Politics. This political trend is followed by the Bulldozer Justice System: a system used conveniently to establish gunda raj and a mirage of justice.
Rising Bulldozer Politics and Justice
Bulldozer politics is persuasive because it pledges swift and decisive action. The temptation to forego deliberative processes in exchange for more direct approaches is more in a country like India where traditional democratic processes are frequently lengthy and cumbersome.
Prominent figures embracing this methodology argue that it is indispensable for slicing through bureaucratic obstacles and tackling urgent problems like societal discontent, corruption, and economic stagnation. These are the hoaxes that the innocent people of India are falling for every day. Their fervent pursuit of justice has caused them to lose sight of injustices committed against other people, particularly minorities.
In India, bulldozer politics has manifested in a literal manner. There is usage of bulldozers to demolish structures on a convenience basis. Bulldozer Justice became a term in the mainstream media as a result of the growing number of government authorities demolishing the allegedly unlawful properties of rioters, stone pelters, vandals, protestors, accused criminals and minorities.
This approach not only targets the poor and marginalized but also symbolizes the broader trend of bypassing legal and democratic procedures to assert authority and silence opposition.
India’s Lawlessness and the Deceitful Bulldozer Justice
India has always stood before the world as a secular, sovereign, socialist, and democratic republic. Nonetheless, India has shown strong disobedience towards the laws since 2019 and bulldozers have become a symbol of this joyous lawlessness. All this is being done to misguide the citizens in the name of justice and to satisfy personal prejudices.
This bulldozer justice system virus has spread in many states. Still, its birthplace is Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Gangster Vikas Dubey died in an encounter in July 2020 following which the municipality of Kanpur in UP demolished his house. The government cited the ground as anomalies yet it was asserted to be an act of retribution.
Yogi Adityanath used the bulldozers extensively throughout his election campaign in 2022 and brought them to celebrate his victory parade. Thus giving him the recognition of “Bulldozer Baba (Father)”.
In March 2022, municipal authorities in the state of Madhya Pradesh ordered the demolition of a person’s residence who was accused of rape, disregarding the legal case against him.
April 10, 2022, Ram Navami processions in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Jharkhand saw widespread rioting and bloodshed. Shivraj Singh Chauhan became the Bulldozer Mama (Uncle) and as part of an “anti-encroachment drive,” houses and shops in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, were razed by bulldozers the very next day i.e. on April 11, 2022. The demolition of 16 houses and 29 shops was a punishment for the alleged stone pelter.
It should be noted that some of the homes the government demolished were constructed as part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and a note of appreciation to the CM was displayed on the walls. Local government representatives demolished these houses without the court’s approval or investigation. According to DIG, Khargone, Range Tilak Singh, the allegedly stone-pelting individuals belonged to the minority community, as evidenced by the properties that were bulldozed.
On April 16, 2022, two communities engaged in violent altercations during a Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra in Jahangirpuri, Delhi. It included gunfire, stone pelting and firebombing. The NDMC (North Delhi Municipal Corporation) started clearing encroachments after this incident with a demolition blitz. The NDMC received a letter from Adesh Gupta, Delhi BJP Chief which referenced alleged illegal shops and the homes of “rioters and anti-social elements.
The Supreme Court immediately issued a stay order even though it did not have the case on its board. The judge gave the authorities the order to stop the bulldozers right away. Despite the instructions, the demolition continued, necessitating yet another intervention by the SC. The destruction ceased when the court declared that it “would take a serious view” of the case.
Incidentally, NDMC told the SC that no houses were razed. The Corporation mentioned that it was a cleaning drive during which only bags of trash, illegal construction on public land, and temporary buildings that extended well beyond the boundaries of houses and shops were removed. It further stated that no notice was required for this under the terms of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.
In May 2022, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma made remarks regarding Prophet Mohammed that didn’t go well with the Muslim community. In addition to inciting rioting and violence in India, these comments were denounced by the Islamic countries. On June 11, 2022, Adityanath’s media advisor, Mrithunjay Kumar posted a picture on media platform X formerly known as Twitter with the caption “उपद्रवी याद रखें, हर शुक्रवार के बाद एक शनिवार ज़रूर आता है…”. On June 12, 2022, amid demonstrations against Nupur Sharma, the Prayagraj Development Authority demolished the property of Javed Mohammad, one of the people accused of inciting violence after Friday namaz.
In areas where communal violence was prevalent, such as Anand and Himmatnagar in Gujarat, Batadrava in Assam, Kanpur, Saharanpur, and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, these demolitions were observed.
Bulldozer Justice has crossed state and communal boundaries to provide swift justice to anyone accused of a crime. This is demonstrated by the demolition of a hotel in Anjuna, Goa connected to the death of a BJP leader and the bulldozing of a coaching centre run by a paper leak accused in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
In June 2023, a man named Sikander Khan alias Sonu was accused of “love jihad”, rape and murder of a 19-year-old Hindu girl in Fatehpur, UP. His house was demolished in the presence of the Sub Divisional Magistrate and police officers.
This year in May, Yogi Adityanath visited the state of Himachal Pradesh for the general election campaign. While addressing the rallies in the Hamirpur district he made certain remarks regarding the Congress manifesto.
In one of his remarks, he said that an inheritance tax similar to the Jizya tax was being attempted to be enacted by opposition parties. As per ANI, the UP Chief Minister said that anyone who chose to follow the path of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb would be “permanently dealt” with his bulldozer.
There is no criminal law that requires the destruction of a criminal’s home in connection with any kind of offence. The accused offenders face charges under Chapter VIII of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses offences against public order such as rioting, inciting violence, and fomenting discord among communities. Alleged offenders in Uttar Pradesh are prosecuted under the stringent NSA and Gangster Act. There is no provision in Chapter VIII of the IPC, 17 NSA18, or Gangster Act 19 for the destruction of property as a form of punishment.
Even though giving notice is a basic requirement of all municipal rules, there are several cases in which no notice was given to the violators before the demolition.
Why were these cases denied the bulldozer justice system?
Since the people in power are amended to provide swift justice through bulldozers, why did the Bulldozer Baba not demolish the house of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar who was convicted in the rape of a 17-year-old and the death of her father in judicial custody? This is the Unnao gangrape case of 2017, the same year when Yogi Adityanath became the CM of Uttar Pradesh for the 1st time.
When can we expect the demolition of the houses of 7 Hindu males who raped and murdered an 8-year-old Muslim girl in Kathua, J&K back in 2018?
Justice can be delayed but is always delivered. But in the case of bulldozer justice, it is selective. 3 out of the 4 “upper caste” men accused in the Hathras gangrape case of 2020 are living freely. Why did they not have to deal with the bulldozers?
Why hasn’t the UP government used its ever-ready bulldozers against the mastermind(s) of the UP paper leak case? “When it comes to run over the people who leak exam papers, the keys get lost somewhere”, said Akhilesh Yadav.
Justice Muralidhar, a renowned member of the Indian court, recently gave an intriguing remark in which he stressed the need to uphold the principles of justice and fairness outlined in the Indian Constitution.
He said, “Our Constitution Cannot Tolerate Bulldozer Justice,” underlines how crucial it is to safeguard the legal system’s integrity and ensure that justice isn’t compromised for the sake of accomplishing other goals.
These instances are just a handful in the ocean of injustice being done in India. Every person is considered innocent until proven guilty but, when a person wearing a cloak of yogi comes to power, all are guilty, especially if they do not belong to the majority. The bulldozers are demolishing the entire justice system in the guise of swift justice.
The judiciary’s timely involvement is the only way to address India’s bulldozer justice. It will influence the extent to which the public’s faith in the Indian judiciary thrives. It is charged with protecting India’s Constitution and needs to understand that demolitions are contradictory to constitutional morals, a political tool, a means of discrimination, and a subversion of the rule of law. It is necessary to control the government’s ignorance and to book individuals involved in extrajudicial activities. If the judiciary remains silent or fails to address violations of the rule of law, it risks submitting to a tyrannical government, resulting in the demise of democracy and the obituary of a long-standing republic.
