'Why separate law for temples when protection is given to unauthorized slums ?'

Margashirsha Krushnapaksha 12,Kaliyug Varsha 5114

Mumbai : Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to demolish 326 religious structures out of 534 unauthorized religious structures declared by it and its list has been published in newspapers. Out of the religious structures which have been decided to be demolished, more than 270 are Hindu temples. Although the Government has to follow directions of  the Supreme Court, it has to pay respect to the religious sentiments of people. The temples should not be declared as unauthorized due to lack proper papers while taking action and care should be taken to protect the ancient ‘Sattvik’ temples. The Government should also not fall prey to pressure tactics used by the minorities and take different view about their prayer houses. The above firm demand has been made by Dr. Uday Dhuri, the President of ‘Maharashtra Mandir and Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangha’ with the BMC administration, Mumbai Mayor and Maharashtra Government. He stated that a meeting would be held by ‘Mandir Mahasangh’ of office bearers of temples, other pro-Hindu activists and religious organizations to oppose the stand taken by the Government to demolish all temples as also to decide about further course of action like starting people’s movement etc.

If slums can be made authorized, why not temples?

The Government is ready to regularize unauthorized slums constructed till the year 2000, then why injustice is being made to only temples which are places of worship of millions of Hindus? Does the Government want to claim that other than temples, there is no unauthorized structure in Mumbai? If the Government is citing the decision of Supreme Court, it may be pointed out here that the Government had passed a special Act to regularize unauthorized constructions in Ulhasnagar. On the same lines, temples can be given protection. Instead of demolishing them, the Government can option for an alternative like shifting them. It was unanimously decided in a meeting of all party MLAs held before the elections of BMC that religious structures in Mumbai would not be demolished and it was accepted by the Government. We demand that the same stand should be taken even now.  

Temples facing such injustice can contact ‘Mandir Mahasangh’

Management of all such temples which have been declared as unauthorized and included in the demolition list, may separately register their protest to BMC administration within 30 days (till 28th January 2013) along with necessary proofs.

If BMC administration is taking willful stand despite submitting necessary proofs of temples’ authorized nature, temple management and devotees can contact 9552578861. The above appeal has been made by the ‘Mandir Mahasangh’.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat