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.
#WATCH | An anti-encroachment drive is being carried out by the PWD in Delhi's Bhajanpura area to remove a Hanuman temple and Mazar
(Drone visuals source: Delhi Police) pic.twitter.com/3j95PD7Sut
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2023
“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.
