The Uttar Pradesh government’s continued use of bulldozers as a punitive measure against protesters in connection with the dispute over the Prophet’s remarks reflects the state’s sheer ignorance of constitutional and legal values. The pride with which the shameful act is carried out is both threatening and disappointing. Bulldozers appear to be gaining wider acceptance as a symbolic tool in the local government market in India. Following the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh, the Karnataka government is also considering similar measures. India as a nation was shaped by solid constitutional mandates and not by the spirit of “bulldozing” citizens’ homes. If bulldozers succeed in replacing established statutory provisions for punishing wrongdoers, it would be a grave disrespect to the Indian justice system and an irreparable loss to the idea of India. The Uttar Pradesh government’s bulldozing operation is more insidious than it appears – it has deep-rooted social, political and cultural dimensions. Politically, it has paid off for the Yogi government by cementing its image as a tough leader. Started as a tirade against the UP CM by Samajwadi party leaders, the phrase “Bulldozer Baba” captured the public’s imagination and now characterizes Yogi Adityanath. Among other factors, the image of “Bulldozer Baba” may have been one of the voters for the party. It is perhaps this metamorphosis of the bulldozer as a political tool that enabled Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya to boldly declare, “Jo Jo Galat Karega, Wahan Wahan Bulldozer Chalega (All wrongdoers will be bulldozed)” – and with it the daunting effort disregarded by the legislators when making legislation for wrongdoers. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, while criticizing the Uttar Pradesh CM’s decision to bulldoze “criminals and mafias”, raised a pertinent question: “Under what law and procedure was this done? Has UP exempted itself from the constitution of India? ” First of all, bulldozers are not the right tools to punish “criminals and mafias”. Second, it cannot be left to the executive branch to decide who “criminals and mafias” are. This task is better left to the judicial process. Currently, are Cases related to bulldozer abuse pending in three courts – Supreme Court, Allahabad High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court.The Supreme Court of India stayed a similar demolition in Jahangirpuri in April this year.When the UP However, if the government continues its bulldozer action, it will undoubtedly go against the spirit of justice and undermine India’s established legal system.The country seems to have returned to a point where an individual is allowed to be above the law and the History shows that this does not bode well!While the use of bulldozers as p political tool is threatening, the issue of cultural manipulation is more worrying. Backed by strong right-wing forces, bulldozers have also become a medium of community segregation. Whether Jahangirpuri or the recent case, an obvious effort to marginalize Muslims is visible. Cultural revival – with Hindutva at its core – was the essence of right-wing ideology. The Hindutva, in turn, is erroneously placed as the antithesis of Islam – implying that the survival of one could be achieved through the elimination of the other. An implicit sense of fear is created and sold by certain right-wing leaders to seize political opportunities. The most chilling aspect is the state’s unintended or unintended contribution to this fabricated process of “cultural revitalization”. In essence, the far-right forces are doing irreparable damage to rich Indian culture. At the forefront of politics and culture are two other dimensions – religion and society. The bulldozer culture, fueled by religious zeal and consolidated by widespread social acceptance, is something that would take serious effort to eradicate. The ominous mix of politics, religion, society and culture has made bulldozer culture a tangle that is difficult to unravel. It requires a strong institutional response. While the legislature and executive are the least expected, the judiciary must excel in its response. The Fourth Pillar’s caustic state has ruled out another option that could have served as a game changer.
