"People happy with bulldozer demolitions do not have hearts": Congress' Ajay Rai welcomes SC on property demolitions

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 18 : Congress Uttar Pradesh chief, Ajay Rai, on Wednesday, welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to halt property demolitions until October 1, stating that taking the law into one's own hands is unacceptable, as the judiciary exists to handle such matters.
"We welcome this decision wholeheartedly. The Supreme Court has halted all bulldozer demolitions. I believe those who are pleased with bulldozer demolitions lack empathy. You cannot take the law into your hands; there is a judiciary to enforce it," Ajay Rai told ANI.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, urged the Centre to establish uniform guidelines for the use of bulldozers in demolitions, emphasising that the absence of such guidelines had led to the Supreme Court's intervention and ruling against these practices.
She stressed that the increasing use of bulldozers should not be viewed as a symbol of the rule of law.
"Despite bulldozer demolitions not being a rule of law, the growing trend of their use is concerning. However, when the general public disagrees with bulldozer actions or any other issue, the Centre should step in and create uniform guidelines for the entire country, which is currently not happening," Mayawati wrote in a post on X.
"Otherwise, in the case of bulldozer actions, the Hon'ble Supreme Court would not have had to intervene to fulfil the Central Government's responsibility, which was necessary. Both the Central and State Governments must focus on upholding the Constitution and the rule of law," the BSP leader added.
The BSP chief's statement follows a recent order by the apex court, which directed that no property demolitions should take place anywhere in India without the Court's permission until October 1.
The Supreme Court clarified that this order does not apply to unauthorised constructions on public roads, footpaths, and similar areas.
A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan issued the order while hearing a series of petitions challenging the practice of bulldozing properties.
Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, on Tuesday, expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for halting bulldozer demolitions across India until October 1 without its permission, stating that bulldozers do not represent justice.
"Bulldozers do not represent justice. The use of bulldozers was unconstitutional, meant to intimidate people. It was deliberately used to suppress opposition voices. I thank the Supreme Court for its order stopping bulldozers. The UP Chief Minister, the government, and BJP glorified the bulldozer as if it symbolised justice. They even paraded it at their rallies to instil fear," Yadav said.
He further described bulldozers as a "symbol of injustice." "Now, with the Supreme Court's direction, I believe bulldozers will be halted, and justice will be served through the courts. A bulldozer can be a symbol of injustice, not justice," Yadav added.