Temple and mazaar removed in Delhi's Bhajanpura for flyover
New Delhi (PTI): A temple and a mazaar were removed amid heavy police deployment in northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura Chowk Sunday morning to pave the way for the construction of a flyover, police said.
They said the decision to remove the two structures was taken at a "religious committee" meeting a few days ago and a proper dialogue was held with the residents and local leaders.
"Everything happened very peacefully," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Joy Tirkey said after the structures were removed by the Public Works Department (PWD) amid heavy deployment of police.
Tirkey said there was a Hanuman temple and a mazaar on the opposite sides of the road at Bhajanpura Chowk. A few days ago, a decision was taken at "religious committee" that both the structures would have to be removed to widen the road for the the Saharanpur flyover.
"This was planned a few days ago. But the local leaders here had asked the civil administration for some time to prepare and make some necessary arrangements. Today (Sunday), we spoke to all of them and after having a proper dialogue with them, both the religious structures were removed from here with everyone's cooperation. Even the devotees came here and performed their puja before the removal of the religious structure. The temple was removed by the priest himself," he said.
Police said adequate security force has been deployed in the area to ensure the PWD is provided all the necessary assistance.
Northeast Delhi is considered a communally sensitive area. It witnessed riots in 2020 in which over 50 people lost their lives and more than 250 were injured
Meanwhile, Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi tweeted about the demolition of the religious structures.
"LG sir: Few days ago, I had written a letter requesting you to withdraw your decision to demolish temples and other religious places in Delhi. But today a temple in Bhajanpura was demolished again. I request you again to ensure that temples and other religious structures are not demolished in Delhi. People's faith is attached to them," she said in a tweet in Hindi.
She had written to Lt Governor V K Saxena on June 22 requesting him to withdraw the decision of demolition of religious places.
Her letter came following a row between locals and the authorities in east Delhi's Mandawali area when officials allegedly removed the grille encroaching upon the footpath near a temple on June 22. It led to rumours that the authorities were there to demolish the temple.
VIDEO | A mazar and a temple were removed from Bhajanpura main road in Delhi early morning today. Heavy police deployment made in the area to prevent any untoward incident. pic.twitter.com/yQCjOn19al
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 2, 2023
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Mercury likely to touch 44 deg C in Delhi; IMD issues alert for heatwave-like conditions
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 26.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 2.4 notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The weather department has forecast partly cloudy sky with an orange alert for heatwave-like conditions at isolated places by the evening.
The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 44 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the IMD said.
The relative humidity in the capital was recorded at 43 per cent at 8.30 am.
The air quality was 'poor' at 9 am, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 223, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
