Homeless shelters and slum clusters housing thousands of families in the heart of New Delhi were razed as part of a beautification strategy ahead of the upcoming G20 summit, activists and residents say.
Gajendar Singh says he 'ran in fear' the night police officers arrived followed by bulldozers to demolish the homeless shelter he had used for the past five years in New Delhi.
"I ran in fear with whatever personal belongings I could gather fast," he told CBC News, opening his small backpack and showing the few essentials he now carries around with him at all times.According to activists and residents, nine of New Delhi's homeless shelters, as well as several slum clusters housing thousands of families in the heart of the city, were razed as part of a beautification strategy ahead of the high-profile G20 leaders summit coming up on Saturday and Sunday.
Ahead of the summit, the razing of the shelters and slums left activists feeling disheartened and questioning the methods of Delhi officials. Ishant Kumar, 10, stands next to his bulldozed house during a demolition drive by authorities at a slum area near the upcoming G20 summit venue in New Delhi on June 1.
The messaging from government officials has been consistent: that its G20 presidency confirms that India is now a major player and power broker on the world stage, as the fifth-largest economy and growing quickly. Several screens have been set up and now hide shanty dwellings that are on the routes where delegates might pass to reach the city's newly built convention centre.
India's foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, said in an interview with local news agency ANI that the absences have "nothing to do with India."
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