This morning Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan received a letter from the Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India, Ajay Maken. The three page letter, which is attached here, says –

“Your decision to investigate six of the proposed or under construction projects through the Principal Secretary (Housing) was conveyed to me, which is a welcome step. I however, would request you to ensure that wherever as in these six SRS projects under enquiry, there are prima facie illegality, no irreversible damage or eviction of residents should be permitted to be done with police force – the aim soley being that of protecting the already marginalised urban poor…”

This afternoon, 18 homes in Ganesh Krupa Society, Golibar were demolished. Over 150 police officers accompanied officials from the Collector’s office as three bulldozers razed these houses to the ground. When they left this evening, they promised to be back tomorrow and the day after, with double the force to demolish the remaining 27 homes. The Chief Minister said he ‘will try and do something.’

The Chief Minister will try and do something. The police don’t even try. They only show up when the builder wants them to. The Court ignores that the builder has broken laws. Are we fooling ourselves we live in a democracy?