Shaheen Bagh to be clear post polls?

As the clock ticks close to Delhi polls voting day, Shaheen Bagh senses the impending danger.

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to Monday hearing a petition seeking directions to reopen the Shaheen Bagh-Kalindi Kunj stretch...

...which has been shut since December 15 last year due to protests over the new citizenship law.

"We understand there is a problem. The question is how do we resolve this and issue directions," the SC asked.

It added: "It is because of elections that we will hear it on Monday."

The court said the matter would be heard after the Delhi elections on February 8.

Delhi goes to polls on February 8. Shaheen Bagh has been at the center of the political narrative for the Delhi elections...

...especially after incidents of shooting were reported near the epicenter of the protests.

The protesters at Shaheen Bagh, majority of whom are women, have been opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

The exclusion of Muslims has triggered widespread outrage and led to protests across the country.

Several sit-ins inspired by the Shaheen Bagh protests also came up in UP’s Lucknow, Prayagraj and other areas.

Union minister Anurag Thakur had asserted that the process of clearing Shaheen Bagh will begin once the BJP comes to power in Delhi after the February 8 Assembly polls.

Thakur also accused chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia of backing the Shaheen Bagh protesters.

"When people of Delhi will cast their vote in favour of the lotus (BJP's poll symbol)...

....and after the results on February 11, Shaheen Bagh (protest site) will be cleared," Thakur said at an event held at the Delhi BJP office.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday expressed his suspicion over the government using force to clear the Shaheen Bagh.

Owaisi said there are indications from the government to forcibly clear the stretch.