Drive to remove illegal religious structures halted, claims city BJP chief

City BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra today claimed that the UT Administration’s demolition drive against encroachments near certain religious places has been immediately halted.

He stated that the BJP held discussions with senior officials of the Administration, during which a resolution was reached. He said, “The Administration has assured that no religious place will be harmed. The BJP clearly demanded that the sanctity of religious places must be maintained. The Administration has agreed to this and halted the action.”

Earlier, the Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee had opposed the decision of the UT Administration and the Municipal Corporation to demolish 21 religious structures in the city. Congress leaders had demanded an immediate halt to the demolitions and called for a comprehensive policy to regularise these structures. City Congress president HS Lucky called upon the Administration to suspend the planned demolitions and engage in a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders.