NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said he would swap 100 acres of forest land for the plot in Tughalakbad where a Ravidas temple stood till it was demolished by the DDA almost a fortnight ago. AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi has tabled a resolution demanding that the Centre bring an ordinance to allot land for the rebuilding of the demolished Saint Ravidas temple in the national capital. CM Kejriwal asserted that the solution to the dispute lay with the Centre. "Its a matter of faith of crores of people. The place is associated with Ravidas, it has got his vibrations. The matter has become a subject of petty politics," Kejriwal said in the Delhi Assembly. "All should work for construction of the temple. Around 12-15 crore people want the Centre to allocate this four-five acres of land for the temple," he said. "Some people say its forest land. If the DDA (Delhi Development Authority) gives this four-five acres of land to Ravidas samaj, the Delhi government will give the Centre 100 acres of forest land. Solution to this lies only with the Centre," he added. During the discussion on the resolution, while AAP legislators blamed the BJP and Centre for the demolition, the BJP MLAs supported the resolution. The Assembly also resolved that the Delhi government should construct a magnificent Ravidas temple at the same site after the Centre allots the land. "Calling the temple historically significant, as Saint Ravidas had visited the site and lived there for some time, the resolution said demolishing this temple "not only crushes religious sentiments but also the history of Dalit struggle". "This House resolves that the Central Government has badly mishandled this issue by not supporting their cause in the Court of law which finally led to its unjustified and unfortunate demolition," the resolution said. A temple of Saint Ravidas was demolished in forest area in south Delhis Tughlakabad on August 10, after a Supreme Court order. During the discussion, AAP Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said the BJP has double standards for temple. Accusing the BJP of demolition of the temple, the Social Welfare Minister said while on one hand, "the BJP is fighting to build a temple on the basis of faith, on the other, it has demolished a temple which has all the documented proof for its existence." Gautam also shared the documents related to the temples existence in the House. "The demolition is to crush our faith. The cruelty on the people of our community has increased since the BJP came to power (at Center)," Gautam said listing some incidents, including that of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi. The BJP MLAs supported the cause saying Saints are not from one community but belong to everyone. BJP MLA OP Sharma said in the House,"BJP supports the resolution. There should be a temple built at that spot. We should not do petty politics over the issue."

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