The Center refutes the AAP’s claim of ‘bulldozing temples,’ claiming that action was taken in accordance with procedure

*Paromita Das
The Central government dismissed the Aam Aadmi Party’s claim of “bulldozing temples,” claiming that the demolition was being carried out in accordance with procedure.

Union Minister for Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to “rein in” Atishi for her comments in a series of tweets.
“Lies travel halfway around the world before the truth can get up and tie its shoelaces.” Recently, AAP leader Atishi Ji made the absurd claim that the Center and its agencies were on the verge of bulldozing temples!” Puri tweeted
“No matter how many times it is repeated, a lie will remain a lie.” So, if Atishi Ji continues to distort the narrative, the Hon’ble Delhi CM should rein him in; otherwise, I will hold a press conference to set the record straight, “Puri added in another Tweet.
Puri went on to accuse Atishi of being “ill-informed” about the actions of her own AAP government and of fabricating a “false narrative.”
“The Religious Committee, chaired by a senior Delhi government official, met twice already on April 26 and 29. On April 27, a joint inspection was conducted in accordance with its directives. The MLA appears to be unaware of her own government’s actions as she fabricates a false narrative “Puri added.
“AAP leaders must understand that urban revitalization is a serious issue.
Efforts to make Delhi a world-class capital will require more rational perspectives, not ill-informed fake narratives and ‘rajneeti.’ To avoid such embarrassment, they should get their facts straight,” Puri tweeted on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Atishi claimed that the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had issued “demolition notices” to four temples in Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar neighborhood, warning that the people of Delhi would not “tolerate” the BJP’s hooliganism.

Atishi also claimed that the BJP-led Central government served demolition notices on four temples without following the “due process” for carrying out such an action.
Seven GPRA colonies at Srinivaspuri, Thyagraj Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Mohammadpur, Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar and Sarojini Nagar are being developed by CPWD and NBCC respectively.
According to a 2009 Supreme Court decision, no unauthorised construction of any religious institution, such as a temple, church, mosque, or gurudwara, shall be permitted on public streets or public spaces.
The Delhi High Court directed in 2015 in a case to demolish entire structures where idols are not installed or placed and GNCTD to explain why the Religious Committee has not dealt with the threat of unauthorised construction and encroachments in the name of religious structures.
ANI has exclusive access to a detailed timeline of events leading up to the demolition.
Sources in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs told ANI, “The first internal meeting of the Ministry was held on 9 April 2022 with all the stakeholders including senior officials… Representatives stated that the religious committee would only decide on the shifting of the idol or ‘GarbhGrah’ part of the religious structures, and that the rest of the unauthorised part would be vacated by the land-owning agency itself.”
According to the sources, “for the redevelopment of these areas, removal of unauthorised jhuggies and 53 unauthorised religious structures (including 51 Temples, 1 Mazar, and 1 Gurudwara) encroaching prime Central government land was required.”
Notices were served to all non-notified huggies in the first week of April, and to all 53 religious structures on 13 and 19 April, as per procedure, to let them know in advance that the proper procedure would be followed, and to give them enough time to relocate on their own.”
“At the same time, a reference was made in the prescribed format on April 6, 2022, and a reminder was sent on April 20, 2022, to the Religious Committee constituted by Hon’ble LG, Delhi vide order dated February 18, 1991, under the directions of Hon’ble SC to deal with the demolition of religious structures on public lands that are in the nature of encroachments.”
Top ministry officials went on to say, “Following that, the GNCTD Home Department scheduled the Religious Committee meeting for April 26, 2022, at 5 p.m. It is chaired by ACS Home, Delhi and Addl CP Special Branch and Jt CP range concerned and HoD of the land-owning agency. Any action regarding removal will be taken as per the decision of Delhi Government Religious Committee.”

According to sources, a Religious Committee meeting was held on April 26, 2022, at the Delhi Secretariat, and was presided over by ASC (Home), Government of NCT of Delhi; Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, IAS.
“The Chairman of the Religious Committee requested that a joint survey be conducted by a team comprised of Land and Development Office officials, Special Branch Police, and Delhi Police, followed by a meeting on February 29, 2022, at 5 p.m. at the Delhi Secretariat. On 27.4.2022, a joint survey was conducted for all 53 unauthorised religious structures. This committee’s most recent meeting was on April 29th. This is a case of illegal land grabbing in the name of religious structures, and according Any decision in this regard will be made by GNCTD, and the role of land-owning agency will follow.”