Gujarat: TDO Resigns Amid Razing Of “Illegal” Mosque Structure In Vadodara

Amid pressure from local corporators of BJP for razing an alleged illegal construction at a mosque in Gujarat’s Tandalja area, Town Development Officer of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) Jitesh Trivedi has submitted his resignation on Wednesday, Vibes of India reported.

Mayor Keyur Rokadia, however, said that he has requested Trivedi to continue his post. The General Board of the VMC will take the decision regarding his resignation. Meanwhile, Trivedi will be retiring from the post in 2022.

“I have told him we cannot accept his resignation and he is a valuable officer… but the decision will be taken by the General Board on his application if he does not withdraw it,” Rokadia said.

His resignation comes after the VMC on October 20 issued a final notice to the mosque to raze the alleged illegal encroachment that was constructed during the recent renovation of the structure, according to Vibes of India. BJP corporator Nitin Donga initially raised the issue and also submitted an application against a death threat for raising the issue of the mosque with the JP Road police station.

The BJP corporator said a representation from the local was received that the mosque had made some illegal encroachments and left a margin of two meters instead of six meters that was mandatory.

Mayor Rokadia said that he had raised the issue in the General Board meeting of the VMC and requested them to have the encroachment removed. Following which, the VMC issued notices but didn’t follow up with them appropriately.

VMC officials informed that the elected wing has been pressuring Jitesh Trivedi to take an action and raze the construction while the VMC has given the mosque trustees time to take the encroachment down on their own.

Trivedi’s resignation was not because of the pressure, Mayor Rokadia informed adding that when he spoke to Trivedi, the resignation was because of his ill health.

(Inputs from Vibes of India)

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