The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has condemned the demolition notice issued to the historic Haider Dass temple of the Dalit community, located in front of Maulana Azad Medical College. AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said that after bulldozing a Jain temple in Shalimar Bagh, the BJP government has now declared this Dalit temple illegal and given a 7-day ultimatum for self-demolition.
The AAP Delhi Unit Chief noted the temple predates the 1930-built Irwin Hospital, houses samadhis of revered Dalit icons, and includes a dharamshala serving the public. The move has deeply hurt the Dalit community. MLAs Vishesh Ravi and Sanjeev Jha were also present.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “Ever since the BJP came to power in Delhi, the poor have suffered immensely — and now even God is not being spared. Just a few days ago, the BJP-led government used a bulldozer on a Jain temple in Shalimar Bagh. Everyone saw it.”
Recalling a past incident, he said, “A few years ago in Tughlakabad — the BJP-controlled Central Government’s DDA sent in bulldozers to demolish the ancient Ravidas temple. Everyone remembers it. The main road in Kalkaji is still called Ravidas Marg because Sant Ravidas’s temple once stood there.”
Referring to promises made to the Dalit community, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Despite repeated assurances, including from the Prime Minister himself to the entire Dalit community, that the government would rebuild the Ravidas temple — the temple hasn’t been rebuilt to this day. This is in front of everyone.”
Sharing shocking new developments, he added, “In Delhi, particularly for the Dalit community and the Jatav community, the temple that houses the memorials of their revered saints and spiritual leaders — the ancient Swami Haider Dass Ashram — has been served a demolition notice. This is not just any small temple. It predates Independence, and spans over a thousand square yards.”
Describing the significance of the site, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “It is an established and longstanding temple, complete with an ashram and a dharamshala. Located right opposite Maulana Azad Medical College, it continues to serve people. Even today, when patients visiting hospitals don’t find space to stay, their attendants rest in this ashram complex. People serve and help one another there.”
Tracing its historical relevance, he said, “India gained independence in 1947, but this temple existed even before that. When Irwin Hospital (now LNJP Hospital) was being built in the 1930s during British rule, the temple was already there. Workers and labourers used to rest and drink water there. This temple stood witness when Irwin Hospital started in 1936. After independence, it became Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. The temple also stood when Maulana Azad Medical College, GB Pant Hospital and Guru Nanak Eye Hospital came up — the entire complex grew around it, but the temple remained.”
Criticising the Delhi Chief Minister, he said, “It is deeply shameful that a few days ago, the Delhi Chief Minister visited LNJP Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College and issued orders stating that all surrounding areas belong to these institutions. Based on that, areas including this temple were suddenly labelled as ‘encroachments’. Declaring such a historic, established temple as an illegal structure is incorrect.”
The AAP Delhi President added, “A notice has now been served, stating the temple is illegal. I believe this is a disgusting step from the government, one that deeply hurts the entire community. This move by the BJP government is disgraceful and deeply hurtful to the Dalit community.”
Reading out the notice, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “The notice has been issued by the State Officer of Maulana Azad Medical College. This is a government institution, and the notice states that the entire structure in question is illegal. It concludes with the line: ‘Now therefore, having considered the material on record and the fact that opportunity of appearing has already been granted and finding no lawful justification for unauthorised construction/encroachment in question, the State Officer hereby directs that said occupants or claimants of unauthorised structures to remove or demolish the said unauthorised structure within seven days.’ In other words, they are ordering that the temple be demolished within seven days.”
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Karol Bagh MLA, Vishesh Ravi, stated that the temple in question houses the samadhis of revered figures from the Dalit community. People from the Dalit community visit this temple daily, bow their heads in reverence, and draw inspiration and energy to do good work. This temple has existed since before India’s independence and has hosted several grand events organized by the community.
He continued, “For the BJP government to now label such a place as illegal and plan its demolition is completely wrong. One wonders what kind of grudge the BJP holds against the Dalit community. In August 2019, the Ravidas temple in Tughlaqabad was demolished. Now, once again in the month of August, the BJP government is set to demolish the Swami Haider Dass temple. The Ravidas temple was nearly 600 years old—built when Tughlaq ruled Delhi, and it was Tughlaq who had granted the land to Saint Ravidas. When the temple was torn down, the Dalit community protested, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made multiple promises to rebuild it—but to this day, the temple has not been restored.”
Vishesh Ravi further said that instead of rebuilding the Ravidas temple in Tughlaqabad, the BJP has now set its sights on other Dalit temples. The BJP should not be under the illusion that it can go on demolishing Dalit places of worship one after another. The Dalit community is fully aware and awakened. If the BJP dares to cast a wrong eye on Dalit temples again, the community will show the government its strength. The entire Dalit community strongly opposes this action by the BJP government.
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