In the span of just eight days, the lives of 350 Muslim families in Gujarat were upended. Their homes, businesses, and dreams were razed to the ground under the crushing weight of JCB bulldozers. This wasn’t an isolated event—it’s part of a troubling trend sweeping across India, where demolitions target Muslim communities in what critics are calling “bulldozer justice.”
The chaos unfolded against a backdrop of rising communal tensions. In states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh—regions governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—bulldozers have become tools of displacement, their destructive path leaving behind rubble and unanswered questions about justice, equality, and human rights.
One of the most harrowing accounts comes from Sendhwa, Madhya Pradesh. A 60-year-old woman recounted the horror of watching her home reduced to dust. “When we asked what our fault was, they beat my husband with lathis” she said, her voice trembling. “I was yelling that my disabled son is inside, but they didn’t stop. I could have lost them both.”
The widespread demolitions have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, denounced the actions as cruel and discriminatory. “The authorities have repeatedly undermined the rule of law, destroying families and communities through targeted campaigns of hate and harassment” Callamard stated. She called for an immediate halt to the demolitions, describing them as “deeply unjust and unlawful.”
These demolitions often follow incidents of communal violence. In one instance, homes were torn down after a Ram Temple rally in Mumbai turned violent, sparking outrage among Muslims who believe they are being unfairly punished for societal unrest.
What stands out in these demolitions is the selective targeting. Amnesty International’s research reveals that Muslim-majority neighborhoods and Muslim-owned properties are disproportionately chosen for destruction. In many cases, Hindu-owned properties in the same areas remain untouched, further fueling accusations of bias.
Zahid Ali Sayyed, who owned a tent-house business in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, put it bluntly: “If they call this justice, it should apply equally to everyone, whether the property belongs to a Hindu or a Muslim.”
The demolitions are part of a broader pattern that critics link to the Hindutva ideology championed by the BJP. Over the past decade, minority communities, including Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, have faced increasing harassment. Statistics paint a stark picture: attacks on Christians surged from 127 incidents in 2014 to 834 in 2024, according to the United Christian Forum. The Sikh community has also endured challenges, particularly during the farmer protests, where many Sikh farmers were at the forefront of the movement.
These events raise a fundamental question: what does true citizenship and equality look like? The answer seems straightforward—governance, judiciary, and public institutions should treat every individual equally, regardless of religion, race, or background. Yet, for many in India’s minority communities, this ideal feels like a distant dream.
Around the world, a troubling wave of anti-migrant and xenophobic sentiment is spreading, propelled by the rise of far-right movements. This unsettling shift raises questions about whether the current democratic and secular systems, once hailed as pillars of inclusivity, are beginning to fail.
As the bulldozers continue to roll, reducing homes to rubble and lives to despair, the need for justice and accountability has never been more urgent. For now, the scars of these demolitions remain, serving as a stark reminder of the fragile state of equality in the world’s largest democracy.
Written by Rizwan Abu Huthaifa
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CrossBorders.Press 
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