Muslim tailor commits suicide after BJP govt demolishes his house in UP
Lucknow: A Muslim tailor Aziz committed suicide after his house was demolished and his sewing machine was confiscated by Bharatiya Janata Party authorities in Uttar Pradesh state of India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a tragic turn of events, Aziz, a dejected and demoralised Muslim tailor from the Akbar Nagar locality of Lucknow, committed suicide after facing severe hardships due to the demolition of his house and the confiscation of his sewing machine by the authorities.
He is survived by his widow and six-month-old daughter, who are now left to navigate life without him.
The demolition of Aziz’s house was part of a larger operation carried out by the BJP government’s Lucknow Development Authority (LDA in Akbar Nagar area.
The demolition drive began in December 2023, targeting homes of poor people. This campaign has profoundly impacted the lives of approximately 15,000 residents, primarily from poor and middle-class backgrounds.
Aziz’s house was demolished during this drive, forcing him and his family to live in tents. To support his family, Aziz worked as a tailor. However, his struggles were compounded on July 20 this year when authorities seized his sewing machine. Aziz managed to retrieve his machine by paying a bribe of Rs 800, but the financial and emotional strain became too much to bear. A few days after this incident, Aziz committed suicide.
The demolition drive has sparked significant concerns and criticism from the affected community. The residents of Akbar Nagar, many of whom are Muslims from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds, have been left homeless and without a means of livelihood. Aziz’s tragic death underscores the human cost of these large-scale urban development projects.
“Aziz’s death is a heart-wrenching reminder of the dire consequences of these actions,” said a local. KMS—15R
