Published 15:48 IST, September 27th 2019
Lilothia moves to SC, submits plea to pray at Guru Ravidas Temple
Rajesh Lilothia, on Friday, moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to pray at the Guru Ravidas Temple in New Delhi until reconstruction of idols is complete
Delhi Congress working President Rajesh Lilothia, on Friday, moved to the Supreme Court seeking permission to pray at the Guru Ravidas Temple in New Delhi until reconstruction and restoration of the idols is complete at the holy site. He has filed an application seeking reconstruction of the temple at the protected land of Tughlaqabad forest area, while also seeking directions to the concerned authority to restore the idols at the holy site.
'The court did not order demolition'
On the demolition of the temple, that happened on August 10 by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Lilothia said that a contempt action should be initiated against the concerned authorities for causing harm to the holy site. He has also said that the court’s August 9 order does not state that the site should be demolished. The plea that was filed by advocate Roshan Santhalia and stated that Lilothia has immense faith in Saint Guru Ravidas and the holy site in which Guru Ravidas had himself lived.
Lilothia, in his plea, while emphasising on his right to pray, informed the apex court that the temple at Tughlaqbad was not a part of the list of unauthorized religious places in Delhi. He also said that the temple had historic significance, as it was built on the land that was allotted by Sultan Sikander Lodhi to Guru Ravidas himself in 1509.
"The demolition of this sacred temple has hurt crores of followers across the countries, who were never informed by the authorities before this demolition," read the plea, which added that apart from carrying out the demolition, the DDA officials have also taken away the idols and dried out the holy pond.
'I am deeply hurt'
He said that he found it surprising that the holy pond has now dried out, which was not having any unauthorized construction and also not violative of norms for notified forests. He has also said that the demolition has been done without any authoritative order.
Further, he added that the removal of idols and the destruction of the temple has come as a setback to the followers of Guru Ravidas and as a follower himself, he feels deeply hurt about it. He also pleaded that the idols and the pond must immediately be restored at the holy site by the DDA.
Updated 16:41 IST, September 27th 2019