Delhi govt to construct Ravidas temple if Centre allot 4-5 acres of land: Kejriwal

The Central government should pass an ordinance allotting four to five acres of land to Ravidas community and the Delhi government will construct the Ravidas temple.

"The Centre should pass an ordinance immediately and allot 4-5 acres of land to Ravidas community. If they allot this land, then Delhi government will get Ravidas Temple constructed on that land," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Kejriwal said he was saddened to see that the matter was being a subject of petty politics.

"Around 12-15 crore people are from the Ravidas community and want the Centre to allot the land. If they give the land to us for the construction of the temple, we will give the Centre 100 acres of forest land," he said.

"We need to rise beyond petty politics and look at this issue seriously. The Centre deliberately did not present facts in the Supreme Court and ordered the destruction of the temple. The Supreme Court should review this matter," the Chief Minister added.

As Kejriwal was peaking, the Assembly witnessed chaos after BJP legislators OP Sharma and Vijender Gupta tried to interrupt the Chief Minister's speech. Subsequently, they were marshalled out of the House.

On August 10, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had demolished the centuries-old temple in Tughlaqabad village under a Supreme Court order.

Following the razing of the temple, several political outfits and devotees took to the streets across the country to protest against the act.

On Monday, the Supreme Court warned against politicising the demolition of the temple. The top court also threatened to initiate the contempt proceedings against those provoking 'dharnas' and demonstrations.

( With inputs from ANI )