Tuesday, May 2 2006 15:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Centre today(May 2, 2006) said the Vadodara district Administration did not take enough caution in dealing with the issue of removing the dargah as matters of religious sentiments need to be dealt with a lot of sensitivity.

"Enough caution was not taken by the district administration which decided to remove the dargah on the pretext of clearing illegal encroachment. More caution should have been taken," Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters here.

Jaiswal, who visited Vadodara where five persons have been killed in clashes following the demolition of the dargah, said "Such matters (religious) should have been dealt with more sensitivity."

He said the adminsitration could have sorted out the matter in consultation with the community representatives and not resorted to the demolition right away.

Pointing out that it was believed that the dargah was nearly 300 years old, Jaiswal said "Distinction should be made between an ordinary place of worship and the one which is a few hundred years old, where more sentiments are involved."