The recent statement issued by the office of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (LG) has stirred the political landscape. This comes after Chief Minister Atishi alleged through a letter that the LG had issued orders for demolishing religious sites.
The LG secretariat now claims that AAP leader and legislator Arvind Kejriwal himself recommended the demolition of 9 temples across various parts of Delhi on 8th February 2023. Kejriwal, along with then Home Minister Manish Sisodia, approved the recommendations of the religious committee.
According to the LG office, the orders for demolishing included 7 temples located in the Karawal Nagar area, while the remaining two were in New Usmanpur. The LG office shared that earlier, on 23rd June 2016, then Home Minister Satyendra Jain also approved the demolition of 8 temples in various parts of Delhi.
According to a statement released by the LG office, a total of 24 religious structures were ordered to be demolished between 2016 and 2023, which included 22 temples and 1 Muslim religious structure. The statement also mentions that on 17th July 2017, Satyendra Jain rejected recommendations to demolish 2 unknown shrines, citing 'religious sentiments and sensitivities,' where only 5-10 people visited weekly.
In response to Atishi's allegations, the Delhi LG stated that these structures were removed for the construction of a grade separator from Filmistan Cinema to DCM Chowk, with the land transferred from Northern Railways to the MCD. The LG office urged those making accusations against the secretariat to retract their statements, apologize, and abstain from indulging in petty politics, emphasizing that Atishi's allegations were false.
