Delhi Demolition Drive: Amit Bharadwaj On MCD Action Against Illegal Structures Near Turkman Gate

On this Special Report, India Today’s Amit Bharadwaj reports from the site of a post-midnight demolition drive near Delhi’s Turkman Gate. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), supported by Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, dismantled several illegal structures, including a banquet hall and a diagnostic centre, situated near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque. Amit Bharadwaj noted, 'The mosque has not been touched but the Baradghar which was right next to the mosque has been brought down.' The action follows a High Court order aimed at clearing decades-old encroachments on land adjacent to the iconic Ramlila Ground. Despite minor stone pelting by a small group of miscreants, the situation remained under control as authorities engaged with peace committees. The report highlights the proximity of these illegal constructions to the MCD’s own headquarters, the Civic Centre, raising questions about past administrative oversight and political pressure that allowed such encroachments to persist for decades in the heart of the national capital.