BY PC Bureau
A day after Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accused the BJP of planning to demolish Hindu temples and a Buddhist site in various parts of the city, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat released official documents on Thursday, showing that Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister of Delhi, reportedly recommended the demolition of nine Hindu temples across the city on February 8, 2023.
According to these documents, Kejriwal, alongside then Minister for Home Affairs Manish Sisodia, approved the recommendations made by the Religious Committee to demolish these temples.
The temples, located in different parts of Delhi, include seven situated in Karawal Nagar and two in New Usmanpur. The demolition was reportedly part of urban development and infrastructural projects, though the move has stirred significant controversy.
The documents also reveal that this was not an isolated decision. As per the records, earlier in June 2016, the then Minister for Home Affairs, Satyendra Jain, had approved the demolition of eight temples across Delhi. The total number of religious structures, including temples and mosques, slated for demolition from 2016 to 2023, now stands at 24. Among these, 22 were temples and just one was a Muslim religious structure.
An interesting aspect of the records is the rejection of the Religious Committee’s recommendations in 2017 to demolish two mazaars (Muslim shrines). On July 17, 2017, Satyendra Jain reportedly overruled the committee’s suggestions, citing the need to respect religious sentiments despite the fact that the structures were deemed historically insignificant, with only a small number of people visiting them weekly. The removal of these mazaars was considered crucial for the construction of a grade separator connecting Filmistan Cinema to DCM Chowk.
The LG Secretariat’s officials emphasized that these revelations are critical in countering recent political claims made by the AAP leadership. They have urged those who made the allegations against the LG Secretariat to retract their statements, apologize, and refrain from engaging in what they called “cheap politics.”
These developments have added further fuel to the ongoing political tensions in Delhi, with the AAP-led government and the LG office at odds over numerous issues, including governance and religious sensitivities.
The controversy surrounding the demolition of religious structures in Delhi is likely to remain a point of contention as the city gears up for further political battles in the coming months.
On Wednesday, Atishi wrote to Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena that a “Religious Committee” under his authority had decided during a November 22 meeting to demolish six religious structures, including Hindu temples and a Buddhist site.
Atishi stated that six sites are slated for demolition in West Patel Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Sunder Nagri, Seema Puri, Gokal Puri, and New Usmanpur. She highlighted that the Buddhist site in Sunder Nagri houses a statue of BR Ambedkar.
During a press conference, Atishi presented minutes from the Religious Committee’s meeting and accused the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of approving the decision. “The committee’s order was sent to the BJP-led Centre’s representative, the LG, who has given his approval,” she asserted.
Atishi further claimed that various authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), district magistrates, and police, are actively preparing for the demolitions.
