Expressing displeasure over the reconstruction of a water kiosk near the historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk overnight after its demolition on the court’s March 28 order, the Delhi High Court on Friday asked the North civic body to comply with its order to remove a “piao” (drinking water kiosk) .
“We don’t want the message to go to anyone that they can take law in their own hand. It can’t be tolerated. This is a complete breakdown of law and order, and we can’t allow that to happen. This is not about the ‘piao’. For us its dignity of court. Rule of law has to survive. Police can’t say we are unable to handle the situation,” said a division bench of Justice S Murlidhar and Justice Vibhu Bakhru.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the area as Sikhs are disturbed with the demolition and had disapproved of any further demolition in the Gurudwara’s vicinity. Due to tension, the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is working in shifts to guard at Gurudwara Sis Ganj to maintain law and order.
The demolition drive was undertaken by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation after the March 28 court orders for the removal of illegal encroachments, including illegal religious structures, in Chandni Chowk within two weeks.
The civic agency demolished the water kiosk (Piau) of the Gurudwara on April 6 morning claiming it as ‘illegal’, however, the Gurudwara Management Committee alleged, “The Piau was constructed on our land and we now won’t allow them to even touch it.” The Gurudwara committee rebuilt the piau within two hours after its demolition.
The demolition faced flak from the BJP that alleged it was a conspiracy hatched by Kejriwal Government. Also, the Delhi BJP on Friday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and demanded that the Delhi Government should clarify its stand on demolitions carried out at around Gauri Shankar Mandir, Gurdwara Sheeshganj Sahib, Jain Mandir and Hanuman Mandir in Chandni Chowk.
Talking to The Pioneer, vice-president of DSGMC, Tanwant Singh said, “Any demolition takes place only after serving a notice and at Sis Ganj Gurudwara, there was no notice served beforehand. On April 5, AAP MlA Alka lamba called up a meeting with Shahjanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and Public Work Department (PWD) and later at 6 am on Wednesday, our Gurudwara was ‘attacked’,” added Singh.
Also he said the DSGMC is not a small group. “We are a group of around 15 lakh Sikhs. We are guarding Chandni Chowk area specifically area around Gurudwara otherwise of which, our brothers will come out on streets and it will go beyond Delhi Police’s reach,” said Singh.
Samardeep Singh, a member of DSGMC, said, “We are angry with this move and if now they touch our historical place, we will die and not allow this to happen.”
Earlier, expressing displeasure over the reconstruction of a water kiosk, the court also pulled up the Delhi Government when it said the water kiosk was only for providing free drinking water. The court asked the Government, “Why don’t you as Government provide free drinking water in that area as well as entire Delhi whose citizens desperately need it.”