Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath takes great pride in his 'bulldozer baba' title, with bulldozers featured prominently in his election rallies. Since coming to power in 2017, Yogi has employed bulldozers to target his opponents, specific communities, and the poor. These bulldozers act with impunity, bypassing legal and judicial processes. It is strange that bulldozer turns blind eye from the leaders of the BJP coalition steeped in corruption or the BJP criminal-mafia.

Under the guise of constructing Ram Path and widening roads in Ayodhya, bulldozers have demolished shops, temples, and homes. Now, this bulldozer is targeting the settlements of ordinary people and the poor across the state, as these lands are sought after by real estate companies and major developers.

Yogi's bulldozer is causing widespread destruction in Lucknow, demolishing over 700 slums, including those along the 16-km Haider Canal. Despite hosting multiple investment summits and lavish events funded with public money in recent years, the outcomes have been zero. Corporate real estate companies are now pushing for prime land, leading to the displacement of long-established settlements. To facilitate this, the UP government has introduced the ‘Nazul Property Ordinance 2024.’ This ordinance could impact numerous cities, markets, and neighborhoods across the state.

For the past few years, Yogi's bulldozer has been targeting the Akbarnagar settlement along the Kukrail Nullah in Lucknow. This community, known for its Ganga-Jamuni culture, had a predominantly Muslim population with around 30 per cent Hindus. Muslims organised Hindu festivals in the area. The settlement, which housed about 1,800 families, included two madrassas, several small schools, mosques, and five large temples. Despite this, the settlement was arbitrarily and unjustly demolished shortly after the Lok Sabha elections.

Following the demolition of Akbarnagar, the government and administration, buoyed by their previous actions, issued orders to demolish additional settlements along the Kukrail Nullah, including Pantnagar, Rahim Nagar, Abrar Nagar, Indraprastha Colony, Scorpio Club, and Khurram Nagar. The irrigation department conducted measurements and marked homes with red lines, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty across Lucknow. In response, the CPI(M)  district unit and IPF organised a meeting on July 7 at the CPI(M) state office, bringing together political parties, social organizations, and prominent citizens. Attendees included CPI(M) state secretary Hiralal Yadav, former minister and Congress leader Dr Masood, Congress administration in-charge Dinesh Singh, All India People's Front’s Dinkar Kapoor, CPI’s Kanti Mishra, and many displaced residents. The meeting, chaired by former SP mayoral candidate Vandana Mishra and moderated by CPI(M)  state secretariat member Madhu Garg, led to the formation of the 'Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti.' The committee resolved to oppose Yogi's bulldozer policy. This was followed by a 'Bhoomi Bachao Satyagraha' campaign across Lucknow, along with public outreach programs and meetings in the affected settlements. Due to the persistent political pressure and mobilisation of a large number of people, the government was forced to backtrack, announcing that no further settlements would be demolished. The chief minister personally called the public, stating that the riverfront development would only affect 35 meters of the riverbed, with no need for the previously proposed 50-meter floodplain zone.

Following this victory, the people of Akbarnagar were filled with renewed enthusiasm. On July 20, the day chief minister Yogi Adityanath was set to inaugurate the 'Saumitra Shakti Van' on land previously occupied by Akbarnagar, the residents organised a satyagraha fast. In response, the government, heavily influenced by real estate interests, turned Basant Kunj—where the fast was scheduled to take place—into a police stronghold and placed Akbarnagar leader Imran Raja under house arrest. Despite these measures, thousands of Akbarnagar residents, under the banner of the Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, held their fast in Basant Kunj Colony. The administration was compelled to accept their memorandum addressed to the chief minister.

During the inauguration of the Soumitra Shakti Van on July 20, the chief minister labeled the residents of Akbarnagar as illegal encroachers, claiming their removal was justified. He asserted that 25 acres of greenery would replace the settlement and that the government had properly rehabilitated those evicted. In response, the Lucknow Bachao Sangharsh Samiti held a press conference at the Press Club on July 22 to contest the Chief Minister’s claims. They exposed the truth about Akbarnagar and questioned the government's narrative. Representatives from various organizations, including SP, Congress, CPI(M), CPI, CPI (ML), IPF, and the Jagruk Nagrik Forum, attended the conference and challenged the assertion that the settlement was an illegal encroachment.

The reality is that Akbarnagar has been inhabited since 1925, as documented in the 1332 Fasli revenue records. Residents' homes were registered with the municipal corporation, and they paid house tax, sewer tax, water tax, and electricity bills. Given that the government now plans to build the riverfront within a 35-meter riverbed, the question arises: why was the entire 500-meter area of Akbarnagar demolished? Additionally, the government intends to charge Rs. 4.80 lakh for rehabilitation in Basant Kunj, with payments to be made in installments of Rs. 3,300 per month over 15 years, circumventing the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013.

The rehabilitation site in Basant Kunj, 20 km from the city, lacks essential facilities such as education, healthcare, and basic civic amenities. Residents are questioning why chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who advocates for environmental protection, has not tackled the ongoing pollution in the Kukrail drain and failed to address its cleaning. It is evident that the government's demolition of Akbarnagar was unjustified. The authorities should acknowledge their mistake and ensure that Akbarnagar residents are properly compensated and reinstated in their original settlement.

A meeting was conducted at CPI(M) office on July 26 to plan the agitation against the eviction of residents along the Haider Canal, the demolition of slums, and the Nazul Property Ordinance and action plan was prepared. The bugle of struggle has been sounded and the common citizens and poor people of Lucknow are ready to fight against Yogi's bulldozer. We will definitely win.