Delhi LG VK Saxena Slams CM Atishi's 'Cheap Politics' Over Alleged Hindu Temples Demolition Order

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Tuesday (31 December) accused a panel of issuing an order, allegedly under the "directions of Lt Governor VK Saxena", to demolish multiple Hindu and Buddhist religious structures.

However, the LG office dismissed the allegation, calling it "cheap politics."

In a statement, the LG secretariat clarified that no temples, mosques, churches, or any other places of worship are being demolished, nor has it received any file in this regard.

Chief Minister Atishi, in a letter to LG Saxena, stated that she had been informed about a meeting of the 'Religious Committee' on 22 November, during which an order for the demolition of religious structures in Delhi was issued.

It has been decided by the Religious Committee "on your directions, and with your approval" to demolish multiple religious structures across Delhi, the Delhi Chief Minister claimed.

Responding strongly, the LG secretariat accused the chief minister of engaging in "cheap politics" to shift focus away from her own and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's "failures", NDTV reported.

"If at all, the LG has issued strict instructions to the police to maintain extra vigil against forces who may indulge in deliberate vandalism for political benefits. His instructions are being strictly followed, as was witnessed during the just gone Christmas celebrations which did not see any untoward incident," the LG secretariat said.

Atishi's letter alleged that the demolition list included numerous temples and Buddhist places of worship located in areas such as West Patel Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Sunder Nagri, Seema Puri, Gokal Puri, and Usmanpur.

In her letter, the Delhi Chief Minister urged Saxena to stop the "demolition" of the religious structures, warning that such actions could hurt the sentiments of communities concerned.

Atishi noted that earlier, decisions of the Religious Committee were routed through the Chief Minister and Home Minister to the LG office, ensuring that no religious sentiments were harmed by such actions.

She further claimed that the LG office issued an order last year, declaring the demolition of religious structures as a matter of "public order," thereby bringing it directly under the LG's purview.

"Since then the work of the Religious Committee has been directly monitored by you. All files of the Religious Committee are routed from the Home department to the the LG office, completely bypassing the chief minister and the home minister," she said in the letter to the LG.

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