Delhi LG’s Office Responds to Atishi’s Claims of Religious Structure Demolitions: ‘CM Playing Cheap Politics’

Key Highlights:

• Atishi’s Allegation: Accuses the LG’s Religious Committee of approving demolition orders for religious structures in Delhi, impacting communities including Dalits.
• LG’s Response: Denies any such demolition plans, calling the accusations a political diversion tactic.
• Context: Comes amid ongoing tensions between Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government.

Atishi’s Allegations:

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, claimed:

• The Religious Committee, acting under LG’s directions, had approved the demolition of multiple religious structures, including temples and Buddhist sites significant to Dalit communities.
• Atishi expressed concerns over the decision, highlighting the potential to hurt religious sentiments.

She urged the LG to withdraw approval for these actions and prevent the demolitions.

LG’s Office Denies Allegations:

In a strongly worded response, the LG’s office refuted Atishi’s claims, stating:

• No such demolition directives were issued or files approved regarding places of worship.
• The accusations were an attempt by the CM to divert attention from her administration’s failures.

The LG’s secretariat highlighted his directive to law enforcement to maintain extra vigilance to prevent deliberate acts of vandalism, ensuring peaceful celebrations during events like Christmas.

Clash Over ‘Temporary CM’ Comment:

Further fueling tensions, Delhi’s LG objected to Chief Minister Kejriwal referring to Atishi as a “temporary chief minister.”

• The LG called the remark insulting, not just to Atishi but also to constitutional authorities.
• Kejriwal defended the comment, stating that democratic offices are inherently temporary and urged the LG to focus on constructive cooperation instead of criticism.

Backdrop of Political Disputes:

This incident is the latest in the long-standing friction between the Delhi government and LG over governance issues, highlighting deeper disagreements about:

• The role and autonomy of the elected government.
• Perceived administrative interference by the LG’s office.

Curious Corner:

Could establishing a clearly defined separation of powers between the LG and Delhi’s elected government help reduce such conflicts?