Odishatv Bureau
New Delhi: Tension continued to grip Pushp Vihar area in South Delhi as local residents along with members of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested the demolition of the ‘Shiv Shakti Jagannath Temple’.

It may be mentioned here that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had bulldozed the place of worship, constructed 35 years ago, on Wednesday claiming that it was illegally built.
 
The Temple was demolished along with the idols of the presiding deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra as well as Lord Sri Ram even as the priests were performing the daily rituals that morning. The incident has sparked a public furore with demands being made that the Temple be reconstructed.

Hundreds of Hindu saints and women today performed “Kirtan” at the site of the Temple seeking its reconstruction even as the rubbles are yet to be cleared.

“It is really shocking that without giving us ample time, the CPWD demolished the Temple and broke the idols. We will ensure that the Temple is rebuilt and seek the support of all our Oriya brethren in this effort.” said Prajtosh Patnaik, manager of the Shivshakti Jagannath Temple.

Acting on an order of the Religious Committee of the Delhi government, the CPWD had demolished the Temple built on an area of 70 square yards.

“Today, there is a sense of sharp resentment among the Hindu community as the 35 year old Temple was demolished,” said Rajneesh Goenka, working president of Sanatan Cult Representative Body.

Sources said the Religious Committee has passed an order, on 13 January 2010, to demolish all the places of worship including this one which have allegedly been built on government land. The CPWD, however, had swung into action almost after a year.

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