Ravidas temple row: Delhi govt says it has no role

Environment Minister Kailash Gahlot on Friday said the Delhi government has no role in the Ravidas temple demolition and it is for the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to take a decision.

He said BJP MLA Vijender Gupta had intentionally made false statements on the floor of the Assembly on Ravidas temple demolition.

The DDA, headed by Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, had on August 10 demolished a Saint Ravidas temple in Tughlakabad following a Supreme Court order.

On Thursday Gupta, who is also the leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, had said that he met the Union Environment Minister on the issue and that the Delhi government's Forest Department had to recommend to convert the forest land to non-forest land.

"It is completely wrong to give such a statement in the Assembly. Delhi government is not the owner of this land nor does it have any control on the land. Knowing all these, Gupta gave such a statement and is trying to do dirty politics," Gahlot said.

Quoting from the Forest Conservation Rules (2003), he said, "DDA is the user agency, so any proposal has to be moved (for convertion of forest land), according to Forest Act and Rules, DDA is the agency (to do it)."IANS