Full Breakdown
Slum Settlement Veiled Ahead of Delhi’s BRICS Summit
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On the night of September 10, 2026, large white-purple curtains were erected along the Nelson Mandela Marg and Munirka Marg in south-Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, covering the informal settlement known locally as “Coolie Camp.” The 10-ft-high barriers restrict entry and exit to two points, forcing residents and vendors to navigate around them while the city prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13, 2026. Residents say the curtains have impeded carts, disrupted earnings, and left an overflowing garbage bin exposed just outside the barrier.
Background & Context
Coolie Camp, a few kilometres from the DLF Promenade mall in Vasant Kunj, consists of compact multi-storeyed huts, narrow lanes, open drains and shared water taps. According to 2012 data from the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), the settlement houses about 281 households. A similar covering was installed during the 2023 G20 Summit, indicating a pattern of temporary visual masking of low-income neighbourhoods for high-profile events.
Key Figures & Groups
- Manoj – vendor and resident.
- Manisha – resident.
- Golu – sanitation worker.
- Shivani – domestic worker.
- Reena – sanitation worker.
- Pawan Khera – Congress MP who criticised the decision to hide the slums from visiting dignitaries.
Timeline
- September 10, 2026 – Curtains installed two days before the summit.
- September 12-13, 2026 – India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit.
Data & Statistics
Criticism & Opposition
Congress MP Pawan Khera accused the BJP-led government of concealing India’s socioeconomic realities from foreign leaders rather than addressing poverty. He framed the curtain installation as a political move to protect the nation’s image ahead of the summit.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is not the first time this area has been covered like this. Even earlier, in 2023, when the G20 Summit happened, the basti (slum) was covered with huge green curtains,” — Manoj
- “Jaise kooda-kachra dhak dete hain, ese hi hamein bhi kooda samajh kar dhak diya hoga [just like we cover garbage, they must have thought of us as garbage, too],” — Manisha
- “If the government has a problem with poverty, why isn’t anything being done to eradicate it?” — Golu
- “Our earnings are anyway less. With movement and income restricted, we have to be careful about our expenses, too,” — Shivani
- “Why do the politicians come to us asking for votes with their hands joined during elections if this is what they think of us — people who need to be hidden so that their pride doesn’t get hurt?” — Reena
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The article presents resident testimonies but includes no official statement from Delhi municipal authorities or the central government explaining the rationale behind the curtains, leaving a gap in understanding the policy justification.
Why It Matters
The veiling of Coolie Camp highlights a tension between urban beautification for international diplomacy and the lived realities of low-income communities. By restricting access and obscuring the settlement, the measures have directly impacted livelihoods, exposed documentation gaps, and sparked political debate over government priorities during a globally visible event.