Delhi PWD demolishes 2 religious structures a temple, mazar in Bhajanpura

The Public Works Department (PWD) removed a mazar and a Hanuman temple from the main road in New Delhi’s Bhajanpura as part of an anti-encroachment drive early Sunday morning, amid heavy police deployment – to prevent any untoward incident – following a meeting of the Delhi Religious Committee, the police said. “The decision to remove […]

Delhi PWD
by Reena Choudhary - July 2, 2023, 12:52 pm

The Public Works Department (PWD) removed a mazar and a Hanuman temple from the main road in New Delhi’s Bhajanpura as part of an anti-encroachment drive early Sunday morning, amid heavy police deployment – to prevent any untoward incident – following a meeting of the Delhi Religious Committee, the police said.

“The decision to remove both the structures (temple and mazar) from Bhajanpura Chowk was taken during a meeting of the Delhi Religious Committee because the road has to be widened as construction of Saharanpur Highway is underway. Everything was done peacefully,” Joy N Tirkey, North East DCP, told reporters.

Sharat Kumar, the sub divisional magistrate of Seelampur The religious committee supported the decision, and on the orders of lieutenant governor VK Saxena, the demoliti

The drive was completed. “It was done peacefully and without incident,” Kumar said. In response to the development, Atishi, a Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader, demanded that the L-G refrain from demolishing temples and other religious sites in the national capital.

“Mr. LG: I had written a letter to you a few days back requesting you to take back your decision to demolish temples and other religious places in Delhi. But today again on your orders a temple has been demolished in Bhajanpura. I request that temples and other religious places not be demolished in Delhi. People’s faith is attached to these,” Atishi tweeted in Hindi.

Scores of Mandawali residents protested and clashed with officials on Thursday after the Public Works Department (PWD) arrived with a bulldozer to raze a railing around a Shani temple that encroached on a pavement, resulting in tense moments before paramilitary reinforcements were called.

In a letter to the lieutenant governor, Atishi said that she learned from the PWD that the L-G ordered the demolition of 14 religious structures. “The officers have told me that the then home minister Manish Sisodia in February 2023 had opposed the demolition proposal and suggested that necessary changes should be made in the projects map. But when this file was put up to you, you overturned his proposal and gave the order to demolish the religious structures,” Atishi wrote.

The minister requested that the L-G revoke his order to demolish the religious structures. She further stated that the police informed her that the L-G had indicated in the file that the demolition of religious structures is a matter of law and order, and that the LG is the competent authority to make a decision on this. “All files relating to the demolition of religious structures should not be sent to the elected government in the future.” “The chief secretary should send you the files directly,” she continued.

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