NEW DELHI: Recent social media posts claimed that the Goraknath temple was demolished to make way for a parking facility for the nearby headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. These claims quickly went viral, sparking outrage online and triggering debates across political and social circles. However, a closer look at official records and eyewitness accounts shows that these claims are false.
This shocking claim is completely fake and misleading. No harm has come to the temple. The MCD carried out a routine demolition drive in Jhandewalan to remove illegal encroachments near the Gorakhnath Temple and a nearby dargah. Officials have confirmed that the main temple… https://t.co/KUWVR0aGaq
— 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒂 (@itsDivasChoice) November 30, 2025
Authorities from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have clarified that the Mandir itself was not touched during the demolition drive. The operation, which took place around November 29–30, was part of a routine anti-encroachment exercise aimed at removing unsafe and unauthorised constructions in the Jhandewalan area. Notices were reportedly served to residents 45 days prior to the action, giving ample time for compliance.
Delhi: Delhi Municipal Corporation conducts demolition drive targeting illegal constructions near Jhandewalan Temple and the RSS office in Karol Bagh; plots had been vacated in advance. pic.twitter.com/wsQtIM03qe
— IANS (@ians_india) November 29, 2025
The structures removed during the drive were largely residential buildings, temporary extensions, and other illegal constructions that had been built without approval. Municipal authorities emphasised that these structures posed serious structural risks, making their removal necessary for public safety. Officials have repeatedly stated that there was no heritage or religious site involved in the demolition. Documents released by the MCD show no reference to any part of the Mandir or associated religious structures being affected.
People have confirmed that no damage has been done to the temple during the anti-encroachment drive
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRrejpsDNYp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Despite this, the incident was misrepresented online. A shaky mobile video circulated widely, claiming that a 1,500-year-old Mandir had been razed to make room for an RSS parking lot. The footage showed rubble and a crowd of upset locals, but it did not provide evidence of any religious structure being demolished. Social media users and some political figures amplified the narrative, which quickly escalated into a broader debate.
The demolition was focused solely on illegal encroachments, as part of ongoing civic efforts to clear unsafe structures in the city. The allegation that the drive was intended to create a parking facility for the RSS headquarters has no basis in fact. Municipal authorities and local officials have clarified that there is no plan to build parking on the cleared land. The narrative circulating online appears to have been fueled by speculation rather than evidence, highlighting the risks of misinformation spreading rapidly in digital spaces. Jhandewalan Mandir remains intact, and regular worship and rituals continue as before.
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