BJP trying to demolish Haj House in Ghaziabad: SP leader

Samajwadi Party leader Nahar Singh Yadav on Wednesday alleged the Uttar Pradesh's ruling BJP wants to demolish the Haj House here, which was locked up soon after it was inaugurated by then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav last year.

Yadav, who has been allowed by the National Green Tribunal to become a party in the case it is hearing on alleged flouting of environment norms in the Haj House's construction, claimed this is why the state government was not arguing the case properly before the green court.

Noting the Haj House was constructed by the SP government after getting due clearances from different departments, he said: "But the Yogi Adityanath government is adamant to demolish this building. The same departments which gave clearances are now in denial mode under the state government pressure."

Contending that the state government departments including the Ghaziabad civic agencies and the district administration, Irrigation and PWD are not pursuing the case in NGT effectively, the SP leader told IANS: "This will lead to the NGT ordering its demolition. This is just a political gimmick by the BJP."

The case against the construction is being fought by Mahesh Ahuja, a Hindu activist.

"The government is in collision with the petitioner," claimed Yadav, adding: "That's why I decided to contest to fight the case effectively."

However dismissing the allegations, Additional District Magistrate, City, Preeti Jaiswal said: "Its custodian is the state Haj Committee, so allowing pilgrims or not allowing them is beyond our jurisdiction. Yadav's allegations are false."

After the Haj House was inaugurated in September last year, over 8,000 Haj pilgrims were dispatched by Akhilesh Yadav.

Before going on the Haj pilgrimage, a pilgrim has to obtain four to five clearances from different departments in Delhi and the SP government had decided to set up a Haj House in Ghaziabad to solve the problem.

--IANS

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