Residents launch dharna ahead of anti-encroachment drive in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh

New Delhi, May 9: Ahead of an anti-encroachment drive in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh on Monday, hundreds of people, including women, launched a dharna in the area as soon as officials of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) reached the venue with bulldozers. The protesters raised slogans against the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) as well as the Central Government and demanded to stop the anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh. Also Read | Punjab CM orders release of Rs 50 lakh relief to kin of PRTC driver Manjit Singh Shaheen Bagh falls under the Central zone of the SDMC. It was the centre of protests and sit-ins against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in December 2019. The sit-in was called off in March 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Also Read | MHA gives security clearance to Jet Airways 2.0; CEO calls it 'emotional moment' Senior police officials were also present at the spot along with their personnel to provide security to SDMC officials. "We have gathered here to stop the bulldozers. If the government is talking about encroachment, were they not able to see the encroachment for 15 years? Why was the MCD and government sleeping for so long? Now when the MCD tenure is ending on May 18, they recall that there is encroachment," said a social worker. The Chairman of the SDMC's standing committee (central zone) said the municipality would do its work and the bulldozers had been organised for the purpose. "Our workers and officials are ready. Teams and bulldozers have been organised. Encroachments will be removed wherever they are be it in Tughlakabad, Sangam Vihar, New Friends Colony or Shaheen Bagh," the chairman said. -PTC News