Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday (January 1) reiterated her allegation against Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, saying that on her approval the religious committee will demolish several temples in the national capital. Atishi alleged that the Central Government is preparing a plan to demolish many temples and Buddhist temples in different parts of Delhi. He said that a religious committee was formed in Delhi. This committee takes decisions on shifting of temples or any vandalism in them. It was formed after the order of the Supreme Court. Which comes under the Home Ministry and not the Delhi Government.
The CM claimed that till last year, whenever this religious committee took any decision, its report was given to the Home Minister of Delhi. Work on it was done only after his permission. He said that only last year the LG of Delhi had issued a decree that the issue of vandalism in temples is related to law and order. Therefore, it does not come under Delhi Government but under the Central Government. Rajesh Committee is headed by the Principal Secretary of Delhi Government. The Principal Secretary is appointed by the Central Government. Now whatever decision is taken, it is sent directly to the LG.
Where is the temple?
Atishi alleged that when we wrote a letter yesterday, LG Saheb’s office was told that no such decision was taken to demolish the temple. Whereas, a meeting of the Religious Committee was held on 22nd November and a decision was taken to demolish many temples. According to the CM, it has been decided to demolish the statue of Hanuman ji in West Patel Nagar, Gokulpuri, Seemapuri, Gokulpuri, New Usman Pur, Ambedkar Park in Sultanpuri and the Buddhist religious place in Sundarnagari.
CM wrote in a post on The Religious Committee, which comes directly under LG Saheb, took the decision to demolish many temples.
He further wrote, “On one hand Arvind Kejriwal ji is bringing the Pujari-Granthi Samman Yojana, on the other hand BJP is bent on demolishing temples. My appeal to BJP’s central government is: These religious places are related to people’s faith; demolish them. The tax should not hurt the faith of millions of people.”
The BJP central government is going to demolish many temples and Buddhist religious places in Delhi.
Earlier ‘Religious Committee’ used to come under the elected government. After the order of LG Sahib last year, it comes directly under LG Sahib. On November 22, the Religious Committee decided to demolish many temples… — Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 1, 2025
Atishi said that on one side there is the Aam Aadmi Party which is announcing to give an honorarium of Rs 18,000 to the priest of every temple and the granthi of every Gurudwara. On the other hand, there is Bharatiya Janata Party which is preparing to demolish the temples and the idol of Hanuman ji. No temple, any religious place, any Buddhist religious place or the idol of Hanuman ji should be demolished because people’s faith is attached to them and they will be deeply hurt.
Ajili’s answer
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s office has denied the allegation, calling it ‘petty politics’. The Lieutenant Governor Secretariat said in a statement that neither any temple, mosque, church or any other place of worship is being demolished. Nor has any file in this regard reached him. In a letter to Lieutenant Governor Saxena, Chief Minister Atishi said he was informed that the ‘Religious Committee’, in a meeting on November 22, had ordered the demolition of religious structures in the national capital. The Lieutenant Governor Secretariat alleged that the Chief Minister was playing cheap politics to divert attention from herself and the failures of her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal.
On one hand, BJP is strongly opposing the payment of honorarium to priests and priests and on the other hand, it is preparing to demolish temples. People are very angry about this. — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 1, 2025
Meanwhile, Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, “On one hand BJP is strongly opposing the giving of honorarium to priests and priests and on the other hand it is preparing to demolish temples. People Very angry about this.” The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday targeted Arvind Kejriwal over his pre-poll promise of giving a salary of Rs 18,000 to the priests of temples and the priests of Gurudwaras, calling him ‘Bagula Bhagat’.
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