Shaheen Bagh in
India’s capital Delhi was the centre of the anti-citizenship law protests from
2019 to 2020. The site had grabbed the world’s attention. On Sunday, the BJP-controlled
South Delhi Municipal Corporation initiated an anti-encroachment drive in the
area that was finally halted after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA intervened and
assured authorities that all illegal structures would be removed.

Here’s all you
need to know about the Shaheen Bag episode on Monday:

1.   
Monday
morning saw heavy police presence in Shaheen Bagh as residents had gathered in
large numbers to protest. While civic authorities said they were carrying out an
anti-encroachment drive, protestors maintained that the drive was meant to
target members of a particular community.

2.   
The
first bulldozer reportedly arrived at 10:15 am. Supporters of the Congress
immediately rushed in and sat in front of the bulldozer, blocking the way.

3.   
The
hullaballoo led to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arriving at the spot. He said that
there were no encroachments in the area as all encroachments had been removed
at his request and alleged that the civic body was carrying out the drive to “disturb
the atmosphere.”

4.   
Khan
intervened at the very moment the bulldozer was about to take down a
scaffolding set up for the painting of a building. The MLA spoke to traders and
representatives of the local market in the presence of cops and had a temporary
structure removed.

5.   
Before
the drive was underway, a South Delhi Municipal Corporation official told ANI
that the “municipality will do its work”. “Our workers and officials are ready;
teams and bulldozers have been organised. Encroachments will be removed
wherever they are.”

6.   
The
demolition drive follows a letter from Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta who had written
to the SCMD mayor demanding removal of encroachment by “Rohingya, Bangladeshis
and anti-social elements.”

7.   
Shaheen
Bagh became the epicentre of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act,
2019. Opposition parties and political activists have alleged that the encroachment
drive targets a particular community.