Demolition Threat: Atishi claims security deployed at Kalkaji JJ cluster

Demolition Threat: Former Delhi chief minister Atishi on Tuesday claimed that a large number of security personnel had been deployed in Bhoomiheen Camp in Kalkaji ahead of a demolition drive.

Eviction notices by the Delhi Development Authority have been pasted at houses in the jhuggi-jhopri camp, warning “encroachers” to leave the spot within three days, or face action.

The camp, where most residents are migrant workers, has seen demolition drives thrice in the last one year — in May and June this year and July 2023.

“Tomorrow, the BJP is going to run bulldozers over the Bhoomiheen Camp. Today, the slum residents there were planning to protest, so the BJP government deployed thousands of police and CRPF personnel.

“Rekha Gupta ji: You had said that no slums would be demolished, right? Then why is such a massive police and CRPF force deployed?” the Aam Aadmi Party leader in a post on X in Hindi.

Gupta had on Sunday said the authorities cannot go against demolition orders issued by the courts and stressed that the displaced residents have been provided accommodation.

The remarks came amid criticism from the opposition AAP over the razing of the Madrasi Camp slum cluster near Barapullah in south Delhi, and similar demolition drives in other parts of the city.

Read more 

Delhi: MCD’s night market at Salimgarh Fort fails to enthuse vendors

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) plan to set up a night market near Salimgarh Fort appears to be receiving a lukewarm response. If implemented, the project will allow street vendors to sell food daily from 6 PM to 10 PM, promoting the city’s vibrant street food culture. An official from the MCD’s City-SP Zone told Patriot that the department is still accepting applications from vendors, albeit unofficially, despite the deadline having passed. Initially, the MCD had set April 11 as the last date for submission of applications. However, due to the poor response, the deadline was extended to May 7. Despite this extension, the response has continued to be underwhelming, and the screening process has yet to begin.

Delhi: Forced labour continues to imperil children

Delhi: Child labour remains a disturbing reality in the national capital, with multiple incidents surfacing regularly. Even as we mark the 14th World Day Against Child Labour, Delhi has not managed to rid itself of the chains that continue to bind its children—forcing many into odd jobs for survival. In 2024, authorities in Delhi rescued 1,170 children in nearly 100 cases of child labour and trafficking. This marked a slight decline from 1,257 children rescued in 126 cases in 2023. These minors, often found working in hazardous conditions for minimal pay, endured long hours of exploitative labour—underlining the continuing crisis of child exploitation in India’s capital.