‘Already a regional brand’: Yogi Adityanath wants bulldozers used to raze Muslim homes exported abroad

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for bulldozers associated with demolitions of Muslim homes and properties to be manufactured and exported, describing the machines as a “brand” of the Indian state, Maktoob reports.

Speaking on Thursday at the foundation-laying ceremony of a tractor manufacturing plant in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area, Adityanath urged the company to expand its production to include bulldozers.

“There would be high demand for them, both domestically and internationally, as they have already become a brand of this region,” he said.

According to the same report, Adityanath's remarks come amid widespread criticism of his government's demolition drives, which have frequently targeted Muslims, marginalised communities and people accused of criminal activities.

The bulldozer has become a symbol of the Uttar Pradesh government's tough approach to law enforcement, with supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) often referring to Adityanath as “Bulldozer Baba”.

However, opposition parties and human rights groups have criticised the demolitions, describing them as punitive actions that disproportionately affect Muslims and other marginalised communities.

Indian law does not allow authorities to demolish the properties of individuals accused of crimes as a form of punishment.

In November 2024, India's Supreme Court ruled that demolishing the properties of people accused of crimes as a punitive measure was illegal. The court also stressed that authorities must follow due process before removing properties identified as illegal encroachments.

Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, Adityanath has now promoted the bulldozer as a product with commercial potential in domestic and international markets.