A straightforward ex-serviceman and stickler for rules, Sinha was never popular with BJP corporators, who did not like his campaigns against illegal construction, encroachments, food adulteration, and lack of fire safety measures in high-rises. Last week, Sinha was dubbed as anti-Hindu by BJP corporators when AMC staff demolished a gate built by the influential Jain Merchants Society on municipal land at Paldi.

But few had imagined that events would take such an ugly turn. Yet, Mayor Joitaram Patel, when asked about the incident, remarked, ``It is not against me, it is against the Commissioner.'' Patel also denounced Sinha as ``pro-minorities'', although he wasn't sure that the demolished structure was atemple. Sinha categorical said that it was not a temple, but ``illegal construction'' on civic land in Jamalpur.

The `temple' stood on a piece of land which is used by people living in nearby slums as open-air latrine. The demolition took place on Wednesday, which shows that the attack was not a spontaneous protest against hurt religious sentiments.