Fact Check: Will Tablighi Jamaat Markaz be demolished?

New Delhi : BJP councillor from Sriniwaspuri and member of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s standing committee Rajpal Singh on Monday claimed that the civic body is planning on demolishing the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz in Nizamuddin.

Some news media portals like Dainik Jagran and Nai Dunia carried reports with the claim that the building is likely to be demolished; the reports were mainly based on the statement released by Rajpal Singh.

The building recently turned out to be one of the hotspots for coronavirus in India after thousands of attendees were evacuated and hundreds of them were found positive to coronavirus, including Maulana Saad.

While the media reports claim that the building will be demolished, the SDMC has denied the claims and said there are no such plans.

"What Rajpal Singh has said is not an official version. Rajpal Singh is just a councillor, he can demand whatever he wants. There is nothing officially from SDMC's side (regarding the demolition of the Markaz)," Radha Krishan, public relations officer of the SDMC, told The Quint.

The Quint also asked him about Rajpal's claim that the building is illegal. The SDMC official claimed that currently their main focus is to fight against coronavirus and he would not like to comment on any other issue.

Ever since a number of people who attended a Tablighi Jamaat meet at the Markaz in mid-March contracted Coronavirus, a number of leaders from the BJP have been targeting the Islamic organisation.

Claim: Tablighi Jamaat Markaz to be demolished

Truth: There is no such plan and this is confirmed by the SDMC.