The recent statement issued by the office of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi has created a stir in politics. This statement has been issued when Chief Minister Atishi had written a letter claiming that LG has issued orders to demolish religious places.
Now the LG Secretariat has claimed that AAP leader and MLA Arvind Kejriwal himself had recommended the demolition of 9 temples in different parts of Delhi on 8 February 2023. Kejriwal and the then Minister (Home) Manish Sisodia had approved the recommendations of the religious committee.
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Kejriwal gave orders to demolish 9 temples!
According to the LG office, out of the 9 temples for which demolition orders were issued as per the claim, 7 were located in Karawal Nagar area, while the remaining two were in New Osmanpur. LG office said that before this, on June 23, 2016, the then Minister (Home) Satyendar Jain had also approved the demolition of 8 temples in different parts of Delhi.
Orders to demolish 22 temples in 5 years
The statement issued by LG Karyayal said that between 2016 and 2023, orders were issued to demolish a total of 24 religious structures, which included 22 temples and 1 Muslim religious structure. The statement also said that on July 17, 2017, Satyendar Jain had rejected the recommendations for demolition of two unnamed mausoleums, where only 5-10 people visit every week, on the grounds of “religious sentiments and sensitivities”. .
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Called CM Atishi’s allegations as lies
According to Delhi LG, it was necessary to remove these structures for the construction of grade separator from Filmistan Cinema to DCM Chowk, for which the land was transferred from Northern Railway to MCD. The Elchi office said that in view of the truth it appealed to withdraw the statements making allegations against the LG Secretariat, and said that those making such allegations should apologize and avoid cheap politics, and that Atishi’s allegations are false. .