Punjab CM to call on PM on temple demolition

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will lead a delegation of the Ravidas community to meet the Prime Minister for the resolution of the crisis triggered by the demolition of their historic temple in Delhi's Tughlakabad area.

The Chief Minister, who met sants and leaders of the community here on Wednesday, acceded to their request to lead them for a personal meeting with the Prime Minister to seek the latter's intervention in the matter, according to an official spokesperson.

Amarinder Singh also appealed to the community to maintain calm and ensure that the common people are not hindered in any way by their protests over the issue.

The Chief Minister promised to seek time for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while reiterating that his government would extend all legal and financial help to the community in pursuing the case for a review of the Supreme Court's demolition order and rebuilding the temple.

The Chief Minister pointed out that he had already sought the Prime Minister's intervention and had also spoken to Union Minister for Urban Development, Hardeep Singh Puri, on the issue, which has caused extreme anguish to the community.

Besides helping in filing of the review petition for review in the apex court, his government will also contribute towards the cost of the land if the Centre agrees to return the temple site to the community, the Chief Minister told the sants.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also promised to look into the demand of the leaders for withdrawal of the five cases that are still going on against members of the community for the violence that hit Jalandhar in 2009 during protests against the firing at the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan and his close associate in Vienna.

( With inputs from IANS )