The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) has stated that encroachment is neither a minor nor a local issue. Rather, it is a cancer spreading through the very body of society and development.
Whether encroachment occurs on a neighbour’s private property or on government land, the outcome is invariably the same. It weakens law and order, slows the pace of development, and forces ordinary citizens to endure serious difficulties in their daily lives.
The Manch stated that when the government and administration take action against encroachment, such action is not arbitrary.
On the contrary, it constitutes a necessary, constitutional, and unavoidable ‘surgery’ undertaken in the larger interest of society—one that cannot be postponed.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch has appealed to citizens to maintain peace, resist provocations, and allow the law to take its course.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch stated that encroachment benefits only a handful of individuals, while the entire society bears the cost.
Encroachment on roads leads to frequent traffic congestion, as a result of which ambulances, fire brigades, and other emergency services are unable to reach their destinations on time.
Illegal occupations of government land obstruct the development of essential facilities. These include schools, hospitals, roads, drains, sewer lines, electricity infrastructure, and water supply systems.
Consequently, public welfare projects remain confined to files, while ordinary citizens struggle daily with disorder and inconvenience.
The Manch made it clear that encroachment has no religion, caste, or community; it is purely a matter of law. If encroachment is ignored even in a single instance, it eventually sets a precedent that hollows out the entire system.
The rule of law can be established only when rules are applied equally to all.
Wherever action has been taken, the existence of valid legal documents would have prevented such situations from arising.
The absence of such documents itself proves that the occupation was illegal.
The Manch further recalled that during the Manmohan Singh government, a large-scale demolition drive was carried out across Delhi in compliance with Supreme Court orders.
Prior to that drive, the city had effectively shrunk due to widespread road encroachments, and traffic congestion had become severe.
Resistance was witnessed at that time as well; however, courts and governments are not adversaries of any citizen.
If the demolition drive was justified then, it remains justified now, as it is being conducted strictly within the framework of law.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch emphasised that the recent anti-encroachment action was not sudden or unannounced.
A court order had already been issued three months earlier. It clearly directed that illegal encroachments be removed within the stipulated timeframe.
This provided ample opportunity for the concerned parties either to remove the encroachments voluntarily or to present valid legal documents before the court.
Despite this, if encroachments continued, attributing blame to the administration is neither appropriate nor just.
According to the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, governments and administrations are often left with only two choices:
Development is possible only when land is free from encroachment.
Whether it involves road widening, sewer line installation, prevention of waterlogging, or the construction of public facilities, encroachment remains the most significant obstacle.
Under such circumstances, administrative action becomes both a compulsion and a constitutional responsibility.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch appealed to the public to maintain peace during administrative action against encroachment.
The Manch stated that protests, stone-pelting, or the spread of rumours neither legitimise encroachment nor resolve the issue.
Allowing the law to function is the duty of every responsible citizen, and cooperation with judicial and administrative processes serves the long-term interests of society.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch warned that failure to take strict action against encroachment today will render entire cities unlivable in the future.
The government’s action is not directed against any individual or community, but is firmly in favour of law, development, and the common citizen.
While the removal of encroachments may appear temporarily painful, just as cancer cannot be treated without surgery, the development of society and cities is impossible without eliminating encroachments.
This is the reality and the foremost demand of the present time.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch expressed support for the official statements of the police and administration. It noted that Joint CP Madhur Verma and DCP Nidhin Valsan stated that the entire operation was conducted in accordance with court orders.
Attempts at stone-pelting were handled with restraint and the minimum necessary force. According to the administration, the situation is now fully under control, with adequate police deployment in place to maintain peace.
The Manch also highlighted that on 6 January 2026, the mosque committee filed a petition in the High Court, upon which the court issued a notice.
However, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi clarified that the demolition drive had been pre-scheduled. It was carried out under an earlier court order dated 12 November.
Accordingly, the action was not taken in response to a new hearing, but in compliance with an existing judicial directive.
Rejecting rumours, the Muslim Rashtriya Manch clarified that no damage was caused to the main structure of the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque.
The mosque’s original 0.195-acre land was left untouched. Action was taken only against structures identified by the MCD as illegal and used for commercial purposes. These included a portion of a banquet hall adjoining the mosque, two to three dispensaries or diagnostic centres, several shops, and other constructions built on public land.
In total, 38,940 square feet of public land has been reclaimed from encroachment.
The Muslim Rashtriya Manch stated that this collective action by the government, administration, and judiciary is essential for upholding the rule of law, maintaining social balance, and ensuring future development.
Firm action against encroachment is in the interest of society as a whole. Peace, cooperation, and respect for the law are the true hallmarks of a democratic society.
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