The recent demolition drive around Chandola Talab, a historic water body in Ahmedabad, has ignited a fierce debate over urban development, state power, and alleged discrimination against marginalized communities. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) defends the operation as a necessary step to remove “illegal encroachments” and restore the lake’s ecosystem. However, residents, human rights activists, and civil society groups argue that the demolitions disproportionately targeted Muslim neighborhoods, raising questions about selective enforcement, legal transparency, and systemic bias. This large-scale displacement, affecting thousands of families, underscores a broader pattern of what critics call “bulldozer justice” aimed at minority communities across India.
The Demolition Drive: Scale and Execution
On April 29, 2025, the AMC launched an “anti-encroachment” operation around Chandola Talab, a centuries-old lake surrounded by working-class settlements, predominantly inhabited by Muslims. The first phase targeted smaller structures, but the second phase, beginning May 20, escalated dramatically. Over 3,000 police personnel and 50 bulldozers razed approximately 8,500 structures, including homes, shops, and places of worship, leaving thousands homeless.
The AMC justified the demolitions as part of a long-term plan to clear unauthorized constructions and rejuvenate the lake for environmental and aesthetic purposes. Authorities cited the need to deepen the lake, construct boundary walls, and develop a public park. However, the operation’s execution has drawn widespread criticism for its lack of transparency and human cost.
Residents reported receiving little to no prior notice, with bulldozers arriving suddenly, often while families were still inside their homes. Household belongings were buried under rubble, and no temporary shelters were provided. Many affected families claimed to possess valid documentation—ration cards, voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, and electricity bills—proving decades of residency. Yet, these were dismissed by authorities, who labeled the structures “illegal.”
A Targeted Operation?
The Chandola Talab demolitions have fueled accusations of selective targeting, as the affected areas were predominantly Muslim. Critics point to a pattern of similar operations in Muslim-majority neighborhoods across India, from Delhi’s Jahangirpuri to Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj and Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone. These drives often follow communal tensions or protests, with bulldozers symbolizing state authority.
In Chandola, the scale of the operation—coupled with the absence of due process—has intensified suspicions of bias. Eyewitnesses described an intimidating presence of armed police, creating an atmosphere of fear rather than administrative action. Residents were given no opportunity to contest the demolitions in court or present their documentation. The AMC’s promise of rehabilitation for “eligible” residents has proven hollow, as eligibility criteria, such as proof of residence before December 1, 2010, exclude most displaced families due to stringent documentation requirements.
The question looms: why are Muslim localities repeatedly singled out? Ahmedabad, like many Indian cities, is dotted with informal settlements, from rail-side slums to encroachments on forest land. Yet, areas dominated by upper-caste or politically connected communities often receive regularization schemes, extended notice periods, or rehabilitation packages. In contrast, minority neighborhoods face swift, punitive action, raising concerns about structural discrimination embedded in urban governance.
The “Illegal Bangladeshi” Narrative
A particularly disturbing aspect of the Chandola demolitions is the rhetoric surrounding the displaced residents. Political leaders and certain media outlets have branded the affected families as “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants,” a label that dehumanizes them and justifies the state’s actions. This narrative stokes Islamophobic sentiments and paints the residents as outsiders, despite evidence to the contrary.
Many families have lived in Chandola for over two decades, with children born in India, educated in local schools, and registered as voters. Their integration into Ahmedabad’s social and economic fabric is undeniable, yet the “illegal immigrant” tag strips them of legitimacy. This tactic echoes similar strategies in Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) process and other BJP-ruled states, where Muslims are frequently labeled as foreigners to delegitimize their presence and erase their claims to urban spaces.
Such rhetoric not only distorts reality but also has tangible consequences. By framing the demolitions as a crackdown on “outsiders,” authorities deflect scrutiny from the lack of legal process and the humanitarian crisis left in the operation’s wake. Families are left without recourse, branded as intruders in the land of their birth.
Reinforcing Ahmedabad’s Communal Divide
Ahmedabad’s history of communal violence, particularly the 2002 Gujarat riots, has left deep scars, with the city becoming increasingly segregated. Muslim residents are often confined to ghettoized areas like Juhapura and Shah Alam, where access to basic services is limited. The Chandola Talab demolitions exacerbate this marginalization, dismantling a mixed, working-class community and further shrinking the spaces where Muslims can live securely.
The destruction of 8,500 structures has disrupted more than just physical homes. Social networks, built over generations, have been torn apart. Livelihoods—small shops, informal workspaces, and local businesses—have been obliterated, plunging families into economic precarity. Children face the risk of dropping out of school, and the psychological toll of displacement is immense. The demolitions send a chilling message: Muslim communities are expendable in the vision of a “modern” urban India.
Legal Ambiguity and Due Process Violations
The Chandola operation’s lack of legal transparency has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates. Residents were not served individual demolition notices, nor were public hearings held to discuss the operation’s scope or impact. No resettlement plans were shared, and the timeline for demolitions left no room for legal challenges. The heavy police presence further stifled dissent, creating an environment of coercion.
This bypassing of due process violates principles of natural justice and exposes stark double standards. When wealthier or politically influential groups violate building norms, courts often intervene with stays or regularization options. In contrast, poor Muslim communities face immediate destruction of their homes, with little judicial recourse. The absence of clear legal frameworks governing such demolitions allows authorities to act with impunity, undermining trust in governance.
The Cost of “Beautification”
The AMC’s stated goal of rejuvenating Chandola Talab—through lake deepening, boundary walls, and a public park—frames the demolitions as a public good. However, the human cost of this “beautification” is staggering. Thousands of families are now homeless, with no clear path to rehabilitation. The environmental argument also rings hollow, as similar encroachments around other water bodies in Ahmedabad have not faced comparable action.
The broader trend of “urban cleansing” across India prioritizes aesthetic and commercial interests over the rights of marginalized communities. In cities like Ahmedabad, where land is a scarce and valuable resource, such drives often pave the way for real estate development or infrastructure projects, further displacing the poor. The Chandola demolitions, while couched in environmental rhetoric, align with this pattern, raising questions about whose vision of urban progress is being prioritized.
Historical Context: A Pattern of Displacement
The Chandola Talab demolitions are not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend in BJP-ruled states, where bulldozers have become tools of governance. Since 2020, similar operations in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi have targeted Muslim neighborhoods, often following communal incidents or protests. These actions are frequently accompanied by narratives of “law and order” or “urban renewal,” but their selective nature suggests a deeper agenda.
Ahmedabad’s communal history adds another layer of context. The 2002 riots entrenched spatial segregation, pushing Muslims into peripheral areas with limited resources. The Chandola demolitions continue this trajectory, reinforcing the city’s divided landscape. Historically, urban planning in India has often marginalized minority and lower-caste communities, from colonial-era slum clearances to modern-day gentrification drives. The Chandola operation fits this pattern, cloaked in the language of development.
Voices of Resistance
Civil society groups, including the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and local NGOs, have condemned the demolitions, calling for an independent inquiry into the AMC’s actions. Activists argue that the operation violates constitutional protections under Article 21 (right to life and shelter) and international human rights standards. Protests by affected residents have been met with police restrictions, but community leaders are organizing to demand rehabilitation and accountability.
Legal challenges are also emerging. Advocates have filed petitions in the Gujarat High Court, seeking a stay on further demolitions and compensation for displaced families. However, the slow pace of judicial relief offers little immediate respite for those already homeless.
Looking Ahead: A Test for Justice
The Chandola Talab demolitions pose urgent questions about India’s urban future and the rights of its most vulnerable citizens. Will the state prioritize inclusive development, or will “beautification” continue to mean erasure for marginalized communities? Can legal and civil society interventions hold authorities accountable, or will “bulldozer justice” remain unchecked?
For now, the displaced families of Chandola Talab face an uncertain future, living in makeshift shelters or with relatives, their lives upended by a state that branded them encroachers. The operation’s legacy will likely deepen Ahmedabad’s communal and economic divides, while fueling a national conversation about fairness, governance, and the true cost of urban progress. As India aspires to global city status, the Chandola demolitions serve as a stark reminder that development must not come at the expense of its most vulnerable.
