Don't Demolish Religious Structures In Delhi: Atishi Urges LG Saxena

On Sunday, Delhi minister Atishi urged Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to "withdraw his orders" to demolish religious structures in the national capital.

PTI

Updated on: 2 July 2023 3:56 pm

Atishi Marlena

Delhi minister Atishi on Sunday urged Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to "withdraw his orders" to demolish religious structures in the national capital.
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The fresh request by the PWD minister came after a temple and a Mazar were removed amid heavy police deployment in northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura Chowk Sunday morning to pave the way for the construction of a flyover. ?? ??
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Police said the decision to remove the two structures was taken at a "religious committee" meeting a few days ago and a proper dialogue was held with the residents and local leaders.
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Atishi tweeted about the demolition of the religious structures.?
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"LG sir: A few days ago, I had written a letter requesting you to withdraw your decision to demolish temples and other religious structures in Delhi. But today a temple in Bhajanpura was demolished again. I request you again to ensure that temples and other religious structures are not demolished in Delhi. People's faith is attached to them," she said in a tweet in Hindi.
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The AAP leader had written to Saxena on June 22 requesting him to withdraw the decision to the demolition of religious places. Her letter came following a row between locals and the authorities in east Delhi's Mandawali area when officials allegedly removed the grille encroaching upon the footpath near a temple on June 22.?
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Talking to PTI Video, she said former Delhi deputy minister Manish Sisodia had received a file regarding the demolition of religious structures in January this year but he rejected it saying that the site plans can be modified.
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"But LG sir sidelined his (Sisodia's) suggestions and instead said that this is a law and order matter. The files about such structures should be sent directly to him rather than through the elected government," Atishi said.
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Later in the day, AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar addressed a press conference and echoed similar views. He also demanded that the decision to demolish temples should be withdrawn.