The struggling urban poor of Dharamveer colony, Near Rohini in Delhi have once again, been made shelterless due to the demolition of their houses today. The residents of Dharamveer Colony had purchased lands long ago in this area (over which the DDA is now staking its claim) and had built their houses with hard earned- money of their sweat and toil.
Ever since their houses were razed to the ground in 2006, they have been peacefully agitating for their right to re-build their houses on these lands and have also met the authorities including Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Chief Minister of Delhi Ms. Sheila Dixit and the concerned officials, but have not been rendered justice. They have been on a Satyagraha since the 2nd of October asserting their basic human right to shelter. The people are organized under the banner of Jan Sangharsh Vahini along with Mr. Bhupendra Rawat, who is known in Delhi for his mass-based struggle of the rights of farmers and unorganized workers.
According to information we are receiving from the ground, the authorities had come in today along with the police and demolished their houses and arrested the protesting people. About 30-35 of them have been lodged at the Prahaladpur Police Station along with some women as well, we are told. Women from most of these households are working as domestic helps in the neighbouring colonies and their husbands are also engaged in small enterprises and construction work etc. They cannot afford any house and it is unjust to evict them in this unfair manner.
Considering the urgency and public interest at stake, we urge you to write letters to the following, seeking their immediate intervention for the unconditional release of all the arrested, since they have not committed any crime but are only asserting their democratic and in fact fundamental right to housing in a peaceful manner. Also demand that the Delhi administration holds a dialogue with the people and sincerely works towards resolution of the conflict and guarantees them their due entitlements.
Write to:
Ms Sheila Dixit,
Chief Minister, New Delhi
Address: 3, Motilal Nehru Marg, New Delhi – 110011
Ph: 011-23392020, 23392030 (Off) ; 011-23018716/7 Fax: 23392111 (Off) ; 23018733 (R) E-mail: cmdelhi@nic.in
Shri Jaipal Reddy, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry for Urban Development, Government of India Address: 8, Tees January Marg, New Delhi – 110 011 Ph: 011-23063495 Fax: 011-23062089 & 23792052 E-mail: sjaipal@sansad.nic.in
Ms. Kiran Dhingra Secretary, Ministry of Urban Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Fax: 011 – 23061444 (O) & 011- 23382489 (R)
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Contact for more details:
Rajendra Ravi: 09868200316 Madhuresh Kumar: 09818905316
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