In a case of ‘better late than never’, a delegation of AICC and Delhi PCC leaders visited people of riot-hit Jahangirpuri on Thursday. The sites the team visited included the scene of Wednesday’s demolition drive. The Congress leaders were stopped by cops from proceeding further.

The decision to send a delegation led by AICC general secretary Ajay Maken to the Jahangirpuri was announced late on Wednesday, after tensions since last Saturday reached a flashpoint following the BJP-administered corporation’s demolition drive before it was halted by a Supreme Court stay order. AAP and Left leaders had joined the public protests when the demolition happened.

Maken said the demolition drive was an ‘attack’ on the poor people and their means of livelihood besides ‘violation’ of the rulebook and past court orders. “This demolition is illegal. I was an urban development minister too. I know how laws work. They cannot do this without any notice. BJP leaders are lying,” he alleged.

AICC Delhi in-charge Shatisinh Gohil alleged that the demolition drive was part of BJP’s bid to divert public attention from issues including inflation. After AICC announced the decision to send a delegation to the site of incidents, Maken had tweeted “sorry for not being there”.

Former Union home minister P Chidambaram tweeted: “We see the rule of law break down every day. Soon there will be no law and no rules. Once arbitrary orders override law, we are on the road to hell.”