A bustling jeans manufacturing hub in West Delhi’s Khyala has come to an abrupt halt following a sealing drive led by Delhi’s Industries Minister and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa. The crackdown, which began in June and targets allegedly unauthorized factories, has triggered unrest in the area, fueled by communal rhetoric and unsubstantiated allegations of illegal immigration.
Khyala, officially declared an industrial zone in 2021, has flourished over the past two decades as a centre for denim production, attracting thousands of Muslim workers from Uttar Pradesh. For years, Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims worked side by side in what locals describe as a cooperative and peaceful environment.
However, the recent drive has taken a controversial turn, with certain media outlets and political voices pushing a conspiracy theory dubbed “jeans jihad.” The theory accuses Muslim-run units of attempting to alter the area’s demographic composition by allegedly sheltering undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
While Minister Sirsa has distanced himself from the term “jeans jihad,” he claimed that many workers were infiltrators and posed a security risk though he provided no concrete evidence. Local police have not confirmed any cases of illegal immigration. No FIRs have been filed on these grounds.
Residents and business owners in Khyala have rejected the allegations. “There is no communal tension here. Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims have worked together peacefully. This narrative is being pushed by outsiders,” said Abid Khan, who has run a jeans manufacturing unit in the area since 1999.
Shrikant Porwal, a representative of the local market association, also dismissed claims of illegal immigrants operating in the area. “This market depends on labour from Uttar Pradesh. Many units were shut down over missing paperwork not because of any unlawful activity,” he said.
The impact of the sealing has been severe. Thousands of workers have lost their jobs, with many returning to their villages in Uttar Pradesh out of fear. “We had around 15,000 workers. Most have gone back home, afraid their workshops would be closed,” said Shah Rukh Khan, a tailor from Kasganj.
Those who remain are facing an uncertain future. “There’s no work anymore. I may have to relocate to Noida,” said Aman Pathan, a tailor from Budaun.
Locals say the crackdown, coupled with divisive language and baseless allegations, has transformed what was once a thriving, peaceful industrial neighbourhood into a place marked by anxiety and economic despair.
