Supporters rushed to the aid of Mr Bajaj and his family this morning, as Glasgow City Council tried again to evict the elderly disabled man and his family from their home in Cardonald, on the south side of the city.The first time the council tried to put this family out onto the streets, a judge ruled against them in possession proceedings. That was overturned on appeal, and the council's Glasgow Asylum Seeker Support (sic) Project (GASSP) tried again last week. No Borders Glasgow put out a call for help, and the Director of Social Work was inundated with emails, faxes and phone calls. He instructed the GASSP team to postpone the eviction, pending a Community Care Assessment (CCA). The CCA was carried out, but Mr Bajaj was told there was no need to wait for a medical report from his doctor, as the council wouldn't be supporting him anyway, so the eviction was re-scheduled for today. Mr Bajaj has congenital kypho-scoliosis, an acute curvature of the spine. He has limited mobility and difficulty breathing. But he should be okay, according to the Council, sleeping on a good Glasgow pavement.
Supporters and solicitors tried to get the council to put a stop to the eviction until Mr Bajaj's care needs are fully explored, and, just as importantly, to fight for his human rights to remain in the relative safety of the UK with his wife, his sons and daughter (who, unlike Mr Bajaj, are not all facing deportation). But the council was not for turning, despite the clause in the legislation that states they MUST support any person if not to would be a breach of their human rights.
So, when needs must, direct action is used. Around 20 supporters barred entry to the Sheriff's Officers, explaining that Mr Bajaj was too ill to get out of bed. Eventually a doctor arrived on the scene, and declared Mr Bajaj too sick to be evicted. A call came through from the council, putting off the eviction again.
Mr Bajaj's son has asked No Borders Glasgow to thank everyone who helped - Rosie Kane, MSP, who was with the family throughout their ordeal this morning, Tommy Sheridan MSP, whose quick intervention, added to the piles of emails and faxes from the public apparently stopped last week's eviction, and all the other supporters who turned up in solidarity, or contacted the council and the Home Office on the family's behalf. The struggle for the Bajaj family's human rights has only just begun. Please keep on helping, please spread the word.
Please help keep the Bajaj family together and in the UK. Click here for the orginal call-out which gives details on how to write to the immigration minister for the right to stay in Britain, and to the Director of Social Work for Mr Bajaj to receive the care and support he needs in Glasgow.
