JOIN USProtests after Corpn demolishes water facilities
Locals started protesting on Wednesday after drinking water facilities at Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gauri Shankar Mandir in Chandni Chowk were demolished by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation personnel and Delhi Police as a part of an anti-encroachment drive under the aegis of Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation’s beautification project.
The anti-encroachment drive, conducted on a court order, started at 6 am.
As soon as the demolition squad reached near the Gurudwara after removing roadside encroachments and started demolishing the water facility on its premises, locals started protesting. A big police contingent was called to avoid clashes.
Shopowners shut down their shops for the latter half of the day fearing a communal outbreak.
“Soon after the squad demolished the piao (water facility) at the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, the devotees started reinstalling it. Heated arguments took place between the MCD officials and the locals. We didn’t open our shop top today because the situation has become too tense here,” said Rajesh Dharma.
Conspiracy of AAP
Delhi BJP unit head Satish Upadhya said it was the conspiracy of Kejriwal government and “he should apologise for the demolition action in the premises of Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gauri Shankar Mandir”.
BJP National Secretary R P Singh said the AAP used the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk area for its political gains.
“After the Aam Aadmi Party came to power, it tried to use this for its political expansion and got the orders of demolition passed by the court with the help of its PWD officers. Under a conspiracy, the PWD shifted the responsibility on the North Delhi Municipal Corporation so that it may look like a demolition at the religious places by the BJP-ruled municipal corporation,” said Singh.
“Today, the order of demolition of historical Chhabil in the corridors of Gurudwara Sish Ganj Sahib was given by the officers under the pressure of local MLA Alka Lamba,” he said.
Singh added Lamba was a member of the team formed for the expansion of AAP in Punjab. He claimed the drive was carried out under a “planned conspiracy”.
Lamba is the director of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation.
Officials with the North Corporation said that the anti-encroachment drive was planned on Tuesday in a meeting of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, which was attended by Lamba, officials of the north civic agency, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Police and Public Works Department, among others.