Protest in Mandawali: A large number of people protested against the removal of a portion of a temple in Delhi's Mandawali area. According to reports, a complaint was made on behalf of a few residents from a different community, in which the temple was declared illegal. Following this, the Junior Engineer of the PWD demanded the people here to remove the grill of the temple.
After the protest by the people, the complaint was forwarded to the SDM. However, the administration has asked people to either remove the grill or bulldozer would be used.
Anil Banka, DM, East Delhi, said, "This was not a drive to demolish the temple, but to remove a railing on the footpath next to the temple. This railing was constructed by some people, a few months ago...it was blocking the way...people were informed that this railing would be removed, this was not the temple railing. Despite that, some confusion happened..."
People have now alleged that the administration is trying to demolish the entire temple and hence so much security has been provided. Heavy police and security forces are deployed in the area. People are continuously protesting. The temple located in between a Madarsa and a mosque. The locals have also been continuously protesting against the cutting of meat.
While people alleged that Arvind Kejriwal government is creating communal disharmony, AAP leader Atishi said, "The order to destroy the temple was given by the L-G. Manish Sisodia, when he was the (Delhi) home minister, had raised objections against it, but the L-G overruled his suggestion."
