NEW DELHI: The Golden Temple replica at a park being developed by South Delhi Municipal Corporation in Punjabi Bagh was dismantled on Tuesday after Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) members had protested against it on Monday for “disrespect shown to the sanctum sanctorum”.
Mayor Mukesh Suryan said on Tuesday that a committee would be set up to consult Sikh community leaders to develop a consensus.
He claimed that politics was being played over the issue due to the upcoming elections and similar replicas of Golden Temple existed at the Amritsar airport and railway stations.
“The project showcases and gives respect to our heritage sites.
There is no question of disrespect,” he added.
Calling the dismantling a victory for DSGMC, its president, S Manjinder Singh Sirsa, however, tweeted, “We have succeeded in getting the replica of Sri Darbar Sahib dismantled from the Punjabi Bagh park.
This replica was against Sikh maryada because Darbar Sahib is not a tourist place, which can be replicated.” At Rs 1.1 crore, the 22ft-high replica was touted to be the most expensive one among the 17 replicas of well known Indian heritage structures being made of scrap metal at Bharat Darshan Park.
“The committee made by the deliberative wing will take the decision about the replica to be build,” a civic official said.
With an overall estimated cost of Rs 18-20 crore, the park is being set up after the success of Waste to Wonder Park that has replicas of seven Wonders of the World recreated from scrap.
The theme of Bharat Darshan Park is “unity in diversity”, which will be displayed through iconic monuments of India such as Charminar, Gateway of India, Konark Temple, Nalanda ruins, Mysore Palace, Golden Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Hawa Mahal, Hampi ruins, Victoria Memorial, Sanchi Stupa, Gol Gumbaz, Ajanta-Ellora Caves and Junagarh Fort.
Officials said the 17 replicas were almost complete and the Golden Temple replica was built out of 12 tonnes of scrap.
The mayor said the structure had been dismantled, but could be rebuilt by reassembling the components.
The park was expected to be completed in March-April, but Covid-19 has delayed the work by three months.
Civic officials are now worried that the recent development may encourage some other groups to demand removal of certain structures.
With the matter assuming political overtones, officials remain tightlipped about the wastage of public funds.