Didn’t explain, just forced us out: Owners of shops bulldozed by administration on Mira Road
Journalist Sohit Mishra questions timing of demolishing after violence
Mumbai: In a ground report video from Mira Road, former NDTV journalist Sohit Mishra investigated the aftermath of the local administration's bulldozing of shops and residences on January 23, following the violence that erupted in the area after the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The video report highlighted the allegations that the demolition targeted mainly Muslim-owned small businesses, raising concerns about selective enforcement and biased actions by the authorities. Mishra visited the site where shops were razed, emphasizing the apparent discrepancy in targeting Muslim-owned establishments while leaving structures, such as the police station nearby, untouched.
Among the affected business owners, Mohammed Abul Hasan, who had run a garage shop on Mira Road for 22 years, shared his experience. Hasan claimed that he received no prior notice or information about the demolition, despite having been granted permission by the administration for water and electricity supply. He questioned the legitimacy of the demolition, pointing out the contradiction in granting permission for utilities if his shop was deemed illegal.
According to Hasan, he was inside the shop when officials, accompanied by police personnel, forced him out and initiated the demolition without providing any explanation.
Another shopkeeper, Shahbuddin, echoed similar sentiments, stating that he was compelled to leave the shop, and his plea to close it before exiting went unheard. Shahbuddin expressed fear among the shopkeepers, anticipating arbitrary demolitions by the administration without warning.
Mishra raised questions about the lack of notice, the absence of an opportunity for owners to clear their belongings, and the failure to clear debris after the demolition if the structures were deemed illegal. Additionally, Mishra questioned the timing of the demolition, which occurred following the violence in the area.
Watch full video of Sohit Sharma below. Subscribe to his channel for more such ground reports.
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Trump says he ‘hasn’t even thought about’ continuing Iran ceasefire
Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he has not yet considered whether he would continue the ceasefire involving Iran, while also claiming the United States holds the advantage in negotiations.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was prepared to make a deal with “whoever is running the show” in Iran.
“They are fighting with each other, there’s tremendous infighting. They’re probably fighting for leadership in many cases. I think they’re fighting not to be leader because we knocked out two levels of leaders,” he said.
Trump added, “When they want they can call me. We have all the cards, we’ve won everything.”
Referring to ongoing negotiations, he said, “They gave us a paper that should’ve been better. And, interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it [envoy trip to Pakistan], within 10 minutes we got a new paper that was much better.”
“We talked about they will not have a nuclear weapon, very simple … They offered a lot, but not enough,” he added.
When asked whether he would continue the ceasefire, Trump replied, “I haven’t even thought about it.”
The remarks come as uncertainty remains over the future of the temporary truce and broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
