Former Delhi CM Atishi Detained During Protest Against Demolition At Kalkaji’s Bhoomiheen Camp (VIDEO)

New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi was detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday, June 10, while participating in a protest against an anti-encroachment drive at the Bhoomiheen Camp in Kalkaji.

Atishi had earlier raised alarm over the heavy police and CRPF deployment in the area, which houses a large population of migrant workers. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had issued eviction notices to residents of the jhuggi-jhopri camp, warning that they must vacate within three days or face forced removal.

“This is the third demolition in just over a year,” Atishi posted on X (formerly Twitter) sharing a photo of the security build-up at the site. “Tomorrow the BJP is going to run a bulldozer on the landless camp. Today the slum dwellers were going to protest so the BJP government has sent thousands of police and CRPF,” she wrote.

Her remarks targeted Delhi Chief Minister and BJP leader Rekha Gupta, who had previously claimed no demolitions would occur. Atishi questioned the contradiction, asking, “Rekha Gupta ji, You said that you will not demolish any slum? Then why is so much police and CRPF deployed?”

Have a look at her post here:

Gupta, meanwhile, has stated that authorities cannot override court-mandated demolition orders and insisted that alternative accommodations had been arranged for displaced residents.

The demolition at Bhoomiheen Camp has sparked critical political reactions, coming on the heels of similar drives, including the recent razing of Madrasi Camp near Barapullah.