Ravidas Temple Row: Schools remain shut after Tughlakabad clashes, Priyanka Gandhi slams BJP

A day after clashes broke out between protesters and the police in Delhi’s Tughlakabad area during an agitation against the recent demolition of a Ravidas Mandir in the national capital, almost all schools remain shut in the South-East Delhi locality. According to a Times of India report, several daycare centres and private schools decided not to hold classes today. Heavy police deployment can be seen in the area since the Wednesday clashes.

The police reportedly resorted to teargas firing and lathicharge as the protesters started pelting stones after returning from the Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi to protest the demolition of the temple.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also slammed the government for using force against protesters. Hitting out at the BJP government for police using batons to disperse protestors, Priyanka said "insult" of the voices of marginalised sector cannot be tolerated. A protest by against the demolition of the temple turned violent on Wednesday night, leaving several people, including policemen, injured.

Heavy police force was deployed in the area as tension prevailed after police used batons to disperse the protesters and detained Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and 50 others.

The Ravidas Temple was demolished by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) earlier this month on the orders of the Supreme Court. 

BJP leader and former Union minister Vijay Goel criticised the Aam Aadmi Party for allegedly politicising the issue. Goel said that he held a meeting with community leaders recently and offered them a solution, but the AAP wanted to score brownie points.

"I have proposed that the temple be built at an alternative place after the approval of the Supreme Court. If they agree, we will take the matter up with the DDA," he said.