BJP’s bulldozer symbolism continues despite Indian SC intervention
Chandigarh: In a blatant disregard for the Indian Supreme Court’s recent order halting demolitions across the country, a BJP candidate in Haryana showcased bulldozers at an election rally in Jind, attended by Uttar Pradesh’s Hindutva chief minister, Yogi Adityanath.
According to Kashmir Media Service, during the rally recetly held in the Narwana assembly constituency, Adityanath touted the so-called “UP model” for addressing ‘crime’, leveraging the notorious imagery of bulldozers, which have become symbolic of his administration’s aggressive stance especially against Muslims since he took office in 2017.
The BJP candidate, Krishan Bedi, strategically positioned several bulldozers near the rally venue as a gesture of support for Adityanath. The UP CM’s speech reinforced this controversial imagery, as he noted, “Krishna Bedi has already parked in front of us the equipment for those involved in riots,” a veiled reference to the demolitions that have disproportionately targeted Muslims and political opponents.
Adityanath boasted about the absence of communal riots during his tenure, attributing this to his administration’s heavy-handed tactics. He stated, “The person involved in riots knows that if he engages in such an act, the earnings acquired by seven generations of his family would be confiscated,” further normalizing the use of bulldozers as a punitive measure against alleged offenders.
The political narrative surrounding bulldozers has dominated Uttar Pradesh’s landscape in recent years, with Adityanath’s government utilizing demolitions as a tool of intimidation. Although the Supreme Court’s intervention has prompted a temporary retreat from this approach, the rally in Haryana starkly illustrates the BJP’s continued embrace of bulldozers as a symbol of their rule — particularly in their treatment of Muslims in UP.
This event highlights a troubling trend in Indian politics, where judicial orders are disregarded, and punitive measures against specific communities are celebrated rather than condemned.
