Shakur Basti demolition: Communal polarization spreads as Railways clamped down mosque, left temple intact

The current situation in Shakur Basti is concerning since the dwellers at the site, are not only facing survival risks, but there is also rampant communalization at the ground level.

New Delhi, Dec 19: The illegal encroachments along the tracks near Shakur Basti were ruthlessly demolished by Indian Railways on December 12. The anti-encroachment programme left more than 5000 people homeless in the scathing winter, and an unfortunate death of a toddler. While the media coverage was centric around the death of the six-month old girl, and the unprecedented politicisation which followed, there were ither dimensions towards the raid which were left untouched.

The current situation in Shakur Basti is concerning since the dwellers at the site, are not only facing survival risks, but there is also rampant communalization at the ground level. In the demolition drive conducted by Railways, one of the mosque inside the Basti was rammed down, whereas, a temple only 100 metre away was left intact. (ALSO READ: Shakur Basti demolition: Delhi High Court issues notice to Railways, AAP government, Delhi Police)

The communal polarization at the ground-level is quite intact with miscreants within both communities leaving no stone unturned to vitiate the atmosphere. According to one of the residents, Mohammed Parvej, the authorities are showing a biased approach by providing relief material only to the Hindu dominated pockets in the basti. “The people here are not getting any aid. It’s all going to the Hindu-dominated areas of this slum. The distribution is happening on religious lines. We are getting nothing,” he said while speaking to Newslaundry.

However, another resident Rizwaz Shaikh claims that the state government has ensured each and every household get the relief materials. “The vans carrying food and clothing materials visit every corner of the Basti. There is no discrimination.”

A section of Muslim population has also accused a number of NGOs of adopting a saffronized outlook and extending aide to only the victims of majoritarian community.

On its part, Railways have denied targeting any Masjid or Mandir. Their demolition drive was targeted against illegal encroachments. The mosque under contention was not brought down for the first time. It had been demolished on earlier occasions too – 2005, 2008 and 2011.