UP Minister and former Modi officer AK Sharma

New Delhi: Days after the Supreme Court suggested issuing India-wide guidelines for property demolition by governments, a senior minister in Uttar Pradesh, who is a former trusted bureaucrat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said on Thursday (Sept 5) that the use of bulldozers would continue in the state.

UP Energy Minister AK Sharma justified and defended the use of bulldozers by the state government, saying it was a tool used by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to root out goondaism and “mafia rule” just as Modi was tackling corruption at the national level.>

“The bulldozer is being used for that and that is a good thing,” Sharma told reporters in Siddharthnagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The Mau civil servant turned politician also said the government would not stop using bulldozers.

“The bulldozer is being used against those involved in criminal and mafia activities through legal process. There is nothing wrong with this. Their use will continue,” Sharma said.

The minister also said that the government was using the bulldozer against the “mafia and miscreants” who flourished and grew during the Samajwadi Party (SP) rule.

Sharma said such elements had illegally taken land from poor and common citizens as well as from the government.

His defiant stand came a day after Adityanath, speaking at an official event in Lucknow, was at pains to rave about his government’s use of bulldozers to demolish properties of accused persons.

“Not everyone has a hand that can fit on a bulldozer,” said Adityanath.

“Iske liye dil aur dimaag dono chaiye.Bulldozer jaisi shramta aur drid pratigya jis mein ho, who is this bulldozer how are you (This requires both heart and brain. Only those who have the capacity and determination of a bulldozer can use a bulldozer),” the UP CM said.>

Adityanath, who had criticised SP leader Akhilesh Yadav for saying that if he comes to power in 2027, he would send all bulldozers to Gorakhpur – the CM’s stronghold – further said: “Those who surrender to rioters will get discouraged at the sight of a bulldozer.”>

Since coming to power in 2017, Adityanath has condoned and promoted the rampant use of bulldozers on the homes and commercial buildings of his political opponents and ordinary citizens.

On his radar were several opposition leaders, including elected representatives.

Shortly after Adityanath’s remarks on the use of bulldozers, Yadav responded with another dig.

“If you and your bulldozer have been so successful, form a new party and contest the elections with the ‘bulldozer’ as your election symbol. Your misconceptions and arrogance will be shattered,” Yadav said.>

He added: “Anyway, given your situation, even if you are in the BJP, you are as well not there. You will have to form a new party, today or tomorrow.”

This is not the first time that Yadav has threatened to use bulldozers against the BJP if he comes to power or criticized Adityanath for demolishing properties through bulldozers. Before the 2022 elections, Yadav promised that if he comes to power, he would turn the wheel of the bulldozer in a different direction.>

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled strongly against the use of bulldozers to demolish properties owned by criminal suspects.

“How can a person’s house be demolished just because he is an accused? Even if he is a convict, it cannot be done without following the procedure prescribed by law,” said Justice BR Gavai.