By 121 News
Chandigarh, Apr.09, 2026:-Today, a significant press conference was held at the Aam Aadmi Party office in Sector 39, Chandigarh under the Chairmanship of State President Vijaypal Singh. The conference was attended by Councillor Yogesh Dhingra, General Secretary Omkar Singh Aulakh, Minority Wing General Secretary Shadab Rathi, and State Media In-charge Vikrant A. Tanwar. During the press conference, AAP strongly attacked the alleged collusion between BJP and Congress over the ongoing demolition drive being carried out by the Chandigarh Housing Board over the past several days.
Addressing the media first, State President Vijaypal Singh stated that this issue concerns nearly two-thirds of Chandigarh’s population, especially impacting women and middle-class families whose basic right to shelter is under threat. He said that the demolition drive being carried out over the past five days has created an atmosphere of fear and distress among residents. “We have personally visited the ground and witnessed the pain of families whose lifelong savings were invested in building their homes, only to see them brutally demolished. Is this what you call development—snatching roofs over people’s heads?” he questioned. He further added that the original objective of the Housing Board was to provide affordable housing to the common man, but today it has turned into an instrument of exploitation and displacement.
Vijaypal Singh alleged that both BJP and Congress have betrayed the people of Chandigarh. “For three days, when homes were being demolished, neither BJP nor Congress leaders were present. Only after everything was destroyed did they arrive for media optics and drama. The public now clearly understands their hypocrisy,” he said.
Councillor Yogesh Dhingra, in his address, questioned the timing of the drive, stating that such actions suddenly surface during election years. “The BJP has been in power for over a decade. Why was no solution provided earlier? A one-time settlement could have been implemented in a single day, but people were deliberately kept hanging. In 2019, promises were made to waive penalties, but even after six years, nothing has been done. Now, just before elections, notices are being issued to intimidate residents,” he said. He further highlighted that AAP councillors even walked out of the MC House to stand with affected residents, while BJP and Congress representatives remained absent from the ground.
General Secretary Omkar Singh Aulakh presented the ground reality, stating that the demolition drive began in Sector 41 and extended to Sector 45, where heavy police force was deployed against residents. “AAP councillors and workers were treated like criminals—dragged, beaten, and detained in police stations. Is it a crime to stand with the people?” he questioned. He directly accused the BJP of orchestrating the entire exercise, with Congress silently supporting it. “This is a well-planned conspiracy—to intimidate the poor, demolish their homes, and extort money from them,” he asserted.
Minority Wing General Secretary Shadab Rathi described the situation on the ground as deeply disturbing and shameful. He said that even elderly citizens and differently-abled individuals were not spared, and in some cases, houses previously declared ‘legal’ by the Housing Board were later demolished. “This is not just double standards, it is outright administrative hooliganism,” he said. He also alleged that the administration is misleading people by falsely citing High Court orders, whereas the court had only directed structural assessments and not demolitions.
The party further accused BJP and Congress leaders of misleading the public through contradictory statements—on one hand claiming that houses will not be demolished, and on the other hand advising residents to demolish their own homes. “If they are not in control, why were they silent for three days? And if they are in control, then this is a direct attack on the people,” the leaders said.
AAP expressed gratitude to the media for highlighting the issue and amplifying the voices of affected families across the country. The party warned that if the demolition drive is not immediately halted, penalties are not waived, and a one-time settlement is not implemented, AAP will launch a massive public आंदोलन and march towards the Governor House.
In conclusion, the party reiterated its commitment to stand firmly with the people. “Aam Aadmi Party is the only political force consistently fighting for the rights of the common man. BJP and Congress have deceived the जनता, but AAP will continue this struggle till justice is delivered,” the leaders asserted.
Issued by:
Vikrant A. Tanwar
State Media In-charge
Aam Aadmi Party, Chandigarh
